Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I will be brief, given much has been said. The fact is we are again talking about this issue in the House but we should not be. We should not have to stand here, time and again, on behalf of families and make phone calls on their behalf. As Senator Maria Byrne noted, their children are becoming disabled because of a failure of the State and the HSE to do their duty and undertake these critical operations. This has been going on for so long. There are many different reasons, excuses and problems. The HSE, the doctors and the medical staff know what the problems are. They have come to the table with many remedies and actions - far more than any of us in this Chamber or the Department of Health. If the resources are provided, we can get the operations done, save these wee children's lives and improve the quality of life for them and their families. It is as simple as that.

It is outrageous that, time and again, we discuss in one of the Houses or at committee meetings the issue of failing our children. Our previous debate this evening related to children in care. At the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, we have discussed the State's failure in regard to children’s assessments of need and access to therapy. Again and again, the most vulnerable, that is, the people who cannot shout out, rely on the State to provide care and it is not providing it.

I accept the Minister of State is not the line Minister for this. I will raise this issue at my parliamentary party meeting as well because this has gone beyond statements. We need actions.