Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Gillian and Stephen on the heartbreaking loss of their son Harvey. Harvey's story has touched the hearts of people throughout Ireland. He was a bright, brave young boy who endured immeasurable pain while waiting for care he desperately needed. No parent should have to fight for years to secure surgery for their child. No child should be removed from a waiting list without explanation. Harvey deserved better. His family deserved better. We, as public representatives, must ensure that no other family suffers the same fate.

Yesterday, I attended the meeting in the audiovisual room hosted by Senator Tom Clonan. From what I understood from listening to everyone in there, they are calling for an independent statutory inquiry into CHI's handling of children with complex health needs, which I fully agree with. Nowhere did I hear anyone calling for someone's resignation, and I am led by what the people want. I know the Tánaiste has expressed deep regret and acknowledged the family's pain. He has requested a full multidisciplinary report on Harvey's care timeline through the Minister for Health. We should be concentrating on CHI and Tusla, which have dramatically failed parents to the point of someone dying. I am pretty sure I heard in the audiovisual room that parents have been reported to Tusla to block them from expressing how their children have been treated.

CHI had similar failures. It removed Harvey from the scoliosis surgery waiting list without informing his parents. It delayed urgent care. It delayed surgery for 33 months. It gave inconsistent medical advice, which left the family confused and unsupported. It failed to co-ordinate care, leading to the worsening of Harvey's condition. His spine curved 130 degrees, crushing his lungs and heart. It ignored repeated pleas for help, including requests for meetings with health officials while Harvey was still alive.

Disability services abandoned Harvey in 2019, withdrawing disability support without explanation. They failed to provide essential equipment, including the communication device he waited five years for. They neglected specialist care, leaving Harvey without regular access to professionals for his complex needs. These failures contributed to Harvey's suffering and ultimately his death, despite his parents' tireless advocacy.

There needs to be urgent reform in Ireland's paediatric healthcare and disability services. There needs to be a full independent inquiry. I have been in the Dáil since 2016 and am an Independent TD. On previous motions of confidence in Dara Calleary, Barry Cowen and Frances Fitzgerald, I did not agree with a no-confidence vote. In most of these cases, reports were being drawn up. We are now in the same situation. A full multidisciplinary report on Harvey's healthcare is being drawn up and the course of Independent Ireland's action will depend on that outcome.

See this speech in context