I sincerely thank the Members of the House for their heartfelt contributions this evening and the specific points raised. Today, the House has reflected on the scoping exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As we close, I want to bring us back to the heart of why this process matters. It is because it affects the lives of the people who have been so deeply shaped by the events and systems we are now examining. The survivors and victims who came forward through Dignity4Patients have shown immense courage. Everyone here today has remarked on that courage. The victims have carried trauma and pain for a very long time, and it takes profound bravery to revisit the experience of harm and violation in order to help to shape a system that is safer for others. Deputy Nash referred to people coming forward initially. That must have been very traumatic and required great bravery, not to mind revisiting the trauma now. The appointment of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC, and the trauma-informed, victim-centred approach underpinning the scoping exercise, represent the commitment of the Government, including the Minister for Health, to ensuring victims and survivors are heard and treated with dignity, respect and care at every step. Their well-being is the foundation upon which this work is built. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, had to attend the Cabinet meeting and has already referred to that. However, her officials are present today and she will be looking at all the contributions made in this debate. This scoping exercise is essential for enabling those impacted to contribute to shaping any future response. Its purpose to recognise harm, analyse failures and strengthen our system to ensure that it is safe, effective and compassionate enough to prevent such failures from happening again. It is important to emphasise that this scoping exercise will be substantive with a focus on rigour and direct engagement with the lived experience of victims and survivors of Michael Shine. To the families, victims and survivors listening today, I say that their great courage and advocacy have shaped the scoping exercise and their voices will continue to guide what happens next. This process is intentionally designed so that the independent facilitator, Mr. Lorcan Staines SC, is tasked with finalising the terms of reference for the scoping exercise in direct consultation with Dignity4Patients. Mr. Staines will have the resources and the full support from Government he requires to assess the full situation and provide a meaningful bespoke approach and response capable of addressing decades-long traumas. We thank Mr. Staines for his work on this scoping exercise, which is over halfway through the 16-week period, and look forward receiving his final report. We particularly thank Dignity4Patients for its sincere and meaningful engagement with Mr. Staines to finalise the terms of reference and for its continued support to the victims and survivors. Mr. Staines will carry out his role as the independent facilitator through direct engagement with victims and survivors of Michael Shine. The lived experience and voices of victims and survivors are at the centre of this scoping exercise and will shape this work. We particularly thank victims and survivors for engaging with Mr. Staines and for their incredible courage and commitment to this process. We appreciate that participating in the process like this must be exceptionally difficult for them and their families but their lived experience is essential to shaping a bespoke approach that will lead to real and lasting change. Mr. Staines is approaching his work with care, independence and respect and with the engagement of victims and survivors, this scoping exercise will deliver the understanding accountability and improvements that victims and survivors, their families and the public deserve. We have a responsibility to those impacted to make sure this work is careful, caring, comprehensive and considerate. It must result in real change and improvements. As the Minister stated earlier in the debate, the final report and recommendations will be submitted to Government to guide and development of an appropriate bespoke response to the issues raised and the needs identified on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. Many speakers made reference to various aspects, which the Minister is taking under very careful consideration. We have listened carefully to everything raised in this House today regarding the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. I want to thank all Members for their continued engagement on this very important matter and echo whatever everyone has said, namely, that this is a partnership with Dignity4Patients and, more particularly, the people its represents - the victims and survivors of Michael Shine.

Sentiment score: 0.26