Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)

I have been 18 years in public life, having served as a city councillor in Cork and as a TD for almost a year in this House. Not a day or week goes by when I do not meet a parent with a child with a special need or difficulty, or a child in need of an operation. They are put to the pins of their collars and are desperate. Although I am not a parent myself, I see from my brother and in-laws how they rear their kids. They would kill for their kids. If you could take on their pain, you would. I see parents struggling to secure operations, services and attention that their children need, and also trying to meet the social welfare criteria, and then I hear excuses in this House about dissatisfaction with the numbers sent to Great Ormond Street or elsewhere. This has been going on since 2012, over ten years ago. In September 2023, safety and governance were raised. In 2012, concerns were raised about the hospital. In 2016, failures regarding the pledge of four months were first noted in this House. This goes on and on and on. I welcome the inquiry and I wanted it. We agreed we would have it, but it must have teeth and finish, and there must be accountability. The assurances the Minister gave this afternoon will not help any parent worrying about a sick child to sleep well tonight.

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