Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)

Níl a fhios agam an mbeidh mo chairde sa tSeomra i gceann tamaill. I thank the Minister for her update. It was very comprehensive. I was here earlier but I had to step out for a while. I will confine my comments just in case my colleagues thunder in, but I can jump back if necessary. I will consider five As, like an A rating. The first A is that consideration be given – the Minister has even addressed one already – to the asks of the parents and advocates of the children. The second is to acknowledge the conscientious and hardworking healthcare professionals already involved over the past 13 years, and probably longer. The third A, which is probably the most serious and one, to my science background mind, I consider the common denominator no matter what subject of healthcare we discuss here, is to always get the why. What has happened and, more importantly, why has it happened? It is that issue of accountability, particularly the accountability of senior HSE management. If we look at the mission statement and values of the Health Service Executive, they are listed as care, compassion, trust and learning. We have had a breakdown on several fronts in that regard. That is a key area. The fourth A is action. Again, that is linked to the first A, namely, the asks. I ask the Minister to consider the 2024 scoliosis Bill brought forward by Senator McDowell because the accountability is built in. The fifth A is, to go back to the beginning, to acknowledge the efforts of the Minister in a short space of time against a system that is stacked against her.

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