Joe Conway (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liomsa ar an gcéad dul síos fíorchaoin fáilte a chur roimh an Aire as teacht isteach go dtí an Teach anocht le héisteacht agus deileáil leis an gcás casta seo faoi scoliosis.

It is coming up on 70 years since a young Senator from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, wrote a book called Profiles in Courage. In it, he outlined the exploits and achievements of eight heroic Senators in the history of the United States since the civil war. It got me thinking that like the eight heroic Senators, the six Senators who devised this Bill for the House are a heroic six to whom we owe a great deal, in particular, Senator McDowell for his drafting of the Bill, but also the other enlightened Senators who put their names to it and made it all possible.

As an ingenue to this House, I was riveted by Senator Clonan’s relating of his son’s passage through his adolescent years. Senators of an independent mien have the ability and courage to devise legislation that is outside the orthodoxy of the parties, and then we hear people talking about the irrelevancy of the Seanad. The astounding thing I have seen in the House in the past couple of months is that the diversity of talent, insight, objectivity or whatever else makes it possible for a contribution such as that of Senator Clonan. Even though it was deeply personal, it underscores very heavily the point that we as a society are failing many people as a result of our inability to devise, promote and continue a health service that is fit for purpose.

Last week, I listened to the secretary of state for health of our neighbouring island, Wes Streeting, tell the House of Commons that in one fell swoop he was abolishing the biggest quango in Europe, NHS England. When I looked up the figures for the HSE, however, I found he was not. He should have been over here abolishing the biggest quango in Europe, our HSE. In my opinion, it is not fit for purpose.

Senators Keogan and Duffy spoke about local manifestations of what this Bill addresses. There is a litany of harrowing stories, not only those akin to that described by Senator Dolan. All over the country, in every art and part, i ngach aird den tír, there are families and children waiting for surgery. I am familiar with one young lady of 18 in County Waterford who is wheelchair bound and has been waiting more than four years for this promised surgery.Those years, as Senator Clonan said, are stolen from this child, never to be got back. When we are talking about profiles in courage, what we have with scoliosis, and indeed many other conditions in Ireland, are profiles in misery and denial, and the robbing of futures. It is a terrible legacy to leave to the people who we are supposedly looking after.

I get great energy from the House tonight. Senators will know the political expression, "We are pushing at an open door". With this legislation, we should be pushing at an open door because it deserves to see the light of day. Those who are suffering from scoliosis and their parents deserve it.