Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have my full Christmas regalia on today. I want to reflect on the news that Cappagh Kids is not going to receive additional funding for orthopaedic paediatric care in 2022. I think we can all agree this is devastating news for patients, parents and staff who are trying hard to care for children with scoliosis. It is hard for me and for the children and carers affected to understand why cost effective, sustainable healthcare is not being considered. Children are waiting for too long in severe pain for surgery. Letting care go for too long compromises the best outcomes for patients. These patients are children and care for children cannot wait.

I want to quote the original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter. She tweeted recently that "You don't have to be trans to understand the importance of respecting trans people and affirming their identities." A study of over 9,000 young trans people, one of the biggest studies that has ever been done of young trans people, shows that access to affirming medical care reduces the rate of suicide and depression by 40%. Trans people being able to access the care they need when they need it literally saves their lives. We are so far from this being a reality in Ireland. Despite the fact that we arguably have progressive laws in this area, we have very poor access to the care, including medical care, that trans people need. I hope that for 2022, we can move to a place where care, compassion and accessible healthcare for our trans family is a reality and that some of the hateful rhetoric that has been flying around over the past couple of years is left in the bin.

One of my favourite topics as a spokesperson on student matters is the Cassells report. We are now aeons away from funding or getting a decision on how we are going to fund further and higher education. I am sure it is trite to say that all I want for Christmas is a publicly funded further and higher education system but we have to get ourselves together in 2022. Our further and higher education sector is creaking at the seams with precarious work practices and people not being able to access or afford it. For years we have been promised there is going to be a solution. I hope that in 2022 we can see a solution. I hope it will be publicly funded. For my last contribution this year, I want to emphasise that we must really stick a pin in the funding of further and higher education and find a solution for it in 2022.

I thank all the staff in Leinster House, the office of the Cathaoirleach, the canteen staff, cleaning staff, and the Debates Office staff who deal with my truly chaotic inability to stick to a script. I thank all the staff in Leinster House for all they do in keeping this place running and open and all of us safe. I wish them all a very happy Christmas and new year.