I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today’s statements on scoliosis and the inquiries announced by the Minister. I welcome the Minister’s appointment yesterday of Mr. Remy Farrell SC as the independent facilitator on the scoping exercise. I also welcome the appointment of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC in relation to the Shine report. Both appointments are long overdue and much needed. The terms of reference and structure of the statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services is an important and necessary step. Massive public trust issues remain in Children’s Health Ireland. There have been a succession of reports and controversies that have left families feeling ignored, unheard and in some cases betrayed. Parents should never have had to campaign for the basics of timely treatment, clear communication and reassurance that governance is strong and patient safety comes first. As I have said in the Chamber before, I do not believe it is possible to regain the public’s trust in CHI. I welcome the Minister’s decision that clinical services will be integrated into the new national children’s hospital and brought under the direct governance of the HSE. Today’s priority, however, is the children and families living with the consequences of CHI’s failures. We all accept the principle that every child should receive a surgical intervention when clinicians recommend it, at the right time. It is deeply concerning that children have been waiting far longer than they should for spinal surgery. While we can point to progress, the continued delays have a real impact on those children, many living in pain, with mobility loss, anxiety and missed childhood milestones. Any efforts to accelerate services must be welcomed, including the additional €30 million to provide extra Saturday outpatient appointments, improve referral pathways, recruit additional orthopaedic surgeons and provide international outsourcing arrangements to support children’s care abroad, which the Minister alluded to. Activity levels have improved, with 534 spinal procedures completed in 2025, up from 513 in 2024. I thank front-line staff for their efforts in this regard. While the progress is welcome, demand continues to rise and cancellations remain a serious issue for families. They are saying the system still does not feel patient centred enough. Even where cancellations are clinically necessary, a child being prepared for surgery and then stood down is not an operational statistic; it is a huge setback for a family. This is where the inquiry process matters. The scoping exercise led by Mr. Farrell must do two things. First, it must centre families, not as an afterthought or as a consultation box-ticking exercise, but as partners in establishing what went wrong and what must change. The review must be patient centred, trauma informed and human rights based and the commitment must be reflected in how families are listened to and supported throughout. Second, it must deliver accountability and learning. We need answers in governance, systems, culture and capacity. We need to understand where communication broke down and why warning signs were not acted upon sooner. We need recommendations that are practical, measurable and implemented, not left gathering dust. I look forward to Mr Farrell’s report at the conclusion of this 16-week period, and I ask that the House receive a clear update on the next steps immediately thereafter, including a timeline for finalising the terms of reference and establishing the inquiry in a way that maintains public confidence. Finally, I want to say this directly to the families. You should never have been put through this ordeal by CHI and the system. It is not good enough but I welcome the progress confirmed today. It shows you have been heard. It must signal the start of a new, transparent, patient-centred culture in these critical services.

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