James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)

Like everyone who has spoken today, I acknowledge Harvey and his parents, Gillian and Stephen. I say this as a human being, a parent of three children and a Member of Dáil Éireann.

I also acknowledge Deputy O'Flynn's comments and the spirit in which he made them, which was in sharp contrast to the comments of Deputies McDonald and Paul Murphy, who should reflect on what they said. Deputy McDonald accused Simon Harris of saying something that sounded good on the radio, in the context of him being the Minister for Health. He is a person who has dedicated his life to public service. There is no need to question the sincerity of Ministers or other Members of the Dáil in the way Deputy McDonald did. All it does is serve to deliver further nastiness in politics, which incentivises the kinds of menacing threats and fear that are put out in the online and real world.

Simon Harris is someone who has proven when he was Minister for Health that he cared for his people and cared for his country. As Minister for higher education, he fulfilled a life-long mission to support people with intellectual disabilities and get them access to third level education. As Minister for foreign affairs in Europe, he has been a huge leader, speaking up on the war on children that has been taking place in Gaza. People should really reflect on the politicisation of this challenging issue that we have heard today. As Deputy O’Flynn said, is this really what the parents of children with such challenging and complex needs really want?

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