I will start with a few questions, which will give the Minister a chance to think about the answers. I will then make a few general points after. The first question relates to Harvey specifically. Across the whole of society, the story of what happened touched a nerve. Why have the head of the spinal management unit, David Moore, or CHI not informed Gillian and Stephen of why Harvey was removed from the scoliosis list? Has the Minister asked that question of CHI? My second question relates to reports and access to information by all the parties in this process. The Minister and the newly announced counsel, Mr. Remy Farrell, will have access to all the relevant reports, including those that remain unpublished, but the parental advocacy groups representing the affected children will not. It is like sending two teams out with different rule books and different access to information. If the Minister's counsel is entitled to see the full material shaping the inquiry, the legal representatives of those affected should be given the same right. There has to be an equal process. That is my second point. Third, can the Minister confirm the scoping inquiry will include the voices of the parents and families whose children have died post spinal surgery or while waiting on spinal surgery?

Sentiment score: 0.04

I have some general points. Parents have been expressing disappointment that the input into the terms of reference that was agreed in meetings does not seem to have been heard. Parents were not consulted and did not have a real say in the facilitator. I know nothing about the facilitator, but they should have been involved in that. It is also problematic, and I do not know if she can answer how she will address this, that the Minister is helping to shape the inquiry while also potentially being called as a witness in the inquiry. This would seem to be a conflict of interest. How is that going to be managed? Parents and children have to be at the heart of framing the terms of reference. I salute the campaigning work of the parents who have brought this about. We have all been in here badgering for this to happen on their behalf. The inquiry has to fully listen to parents, families and patients. It is not a good sign if the facilitator did not fully have their input. The second question I asked is about documents and access to information. It is currently set up that the facilitator of the inquiry and the Minister would be the only ones with full access to all of the reports that are unpublished. That cannot continue. Controversy has continued despite the setting up of this. There have been several controversies since. Last month, we had the separate review into spinal waiting lists but that was delayed due to CHI refusing to give out information requested by the review. There were 62 patients who were requested to come in for checkups after the first review. Over the last three years, €374,000 was spent on a flight to the US by staff to travel to visit the premises of an IT giant which was awarded a contract by CHI. We have had issues with HR systems at all three sites run by CHI. All of these have continued on. This inquiry cannot be a sweep-it-under-the-rug job. It has to fully involve parents and it must involve giving full information to all of the parties.

Sentiment score: -0.01