Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I formally second the motion. I thank the Minister for coming because there are many demands on his time. I appreciate that.

The Health (Scoliosis Treatment Services) Bill 2024 has been proposed by the Independent Group. My colleague, Senator McDowell, has clearly laid out the parameters and objectives of what we are trying to achieve with it. It has ten sections and is generally pretty simple to understand and implement. Many Members of the Houses, by means of parliamentary questions and Commencement matters, have raised concerns about scoliosis. The Minister is aware of those concerns. The Taoiseach is committed to resolving the issue and has clearly stated he is committed. I do not think anything will be achieved today by somehow calling out people or waving a stick at them. The reality is children are suffering. Many people are suffering, but particularly children, due to the painful condition of scoliosis. Clearly, a parent or anybody who sees a family member suffering from scoliosis, and in agony and pain, wants help. We have to respond. We have not collectively responded fast enough despite all the promises. That is disappointing. There have been many setbacks and many reasons for those setbacks, but we have got to move it forward. That is the important thing.

The essence and purpose of the Bill is that:

The Health Service Executive shall establish and maintain a national treatment service for the timely and effective inpatient and outpatient treatment of scoliosis within the State at such hospitals and other clinics and centres as it may designate for the timely detection, assessment and remedial treatment of scoliosis for all children and adults normally resident in the State.

That is a very noble, reasonable objective and purpose for any legislation. The essence of our Bill is accountability, as Senator McDowell said, on delivery of the treatment of scoliosis. What gets measured gets done. I am a great believer in that. What gets quantified and measured gets done or, at least, the focus on achieving and getting it done is more evident and obvious. It is not a bad thing to keep that sort of focus. The Bill demands ongoing progress reporting, which ties in with delivery and accountability. That is right, correct and proper. It should happen. We all know that early intervention with scoliosis is critical for anybody. Early intervention is critical for the outcomes of people with scoliosis.

As I said, scoliosis is a very painful spinal condition with other health-related complications. The parents of young children with it see that their spine is crushing against their lungs and pressing against their hearts, as Senator McDowell talked about. These are stories we are hearing from parents, including the heartbreak of it all. Let us be clear that many children have died and may die if they do not undergo speedy surgery. It is critical. As I said, I do not think anyone is disputing the need to get a proper service and accountability around these issues. Children are waiting for years for surgery and their conditions are worsening while, quite literally, the life is being squeezed out of their bodies. That is what one parent said to me. Scoliosis is squeezing the life out of their child's body as they wait for an intervention. That is horrific.

The power is in these Houses. It is in the Minister's hands and in the hands of all of us collectively as legislators. There have to be resources, facilities and capacity, but we have to get something done about this. The power rests within the Houses. For the past few years, we have constantly had calls made by the Government side of the House and the Opposition for the Minister or previous Ministers for Health on the issue of scoliosis. The responses have varied. The circumstances then changed and things did not move the way we thought they might or as quick as they should. As I said at the very outset of all this, it is not a blame game. Too many people have suffered and are suffering. They need early interventions. That is the core of what we are trying to achieve. Stalling and delaying the treatment is adding more pain.

I understand that the Government is not opposing the Bill, but that is simply not good enough either. Time is running out for the parliamentary life of the current Dáil and Seanad. At the very best, we have six months. I hope we will have broad support but, more than that, that we will not just go away and throw it onto a shelf for the summer, when we all go off for our long summer holiday recess. That is well-earned. I have no difficulty with that, but let us not just throw it away. We are talking about people's lives and interventions. The Bill is measured, reasonable and fair.It respects what was done in the past but acknowledges that we have to do something now. I hope the Minister and all people in government and in opposition will work collectively to make progress on this very important issue.