Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. On International Women’s Day, I wish to speak about the women in my life. My grandmother, who was born in 1900 in Killorglin, came to Dublin at 16 years of age to become a primary school teacher. She participated in a citizens’ assembly in 1916 – the Rising – where she took matters into her own hands to achieve a republic of equality, which is explicitly articulated in the Proclamation. My granny retired after many years teaching in Scoil Bhríde. She went to Scoil Bhríde in 1919, which …

I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. I was informed last night that it was she who would be here. I was very pleased to hear that, not only because she is my local representative, of course, but also because I know her to be a person of absolute intellectual and ethical integrity. I know that the Minister of State will understand the import of the matter I am going to raise here. We may be distracted by, let us say, matters in RTÉ or the cost overruns in the children's hospital, but in the context o…

I appreciate the sincerity of the Minister of State’s response. I know she and I are on the same page when it comes to our concern with children and citizens with additional needs. I have deep concerns about the surgical qualifications of these people carrying out urological procedures. Many are general paediatric surgeons with no specialisation in urology which is not consistent with international best practice. Some of them are not on the urological surgery register. We should not have surgeons intervening in tha…

I echo the congratulations to our ceannaire. She would be a great representative of Ireland in Europe, and of Fine Gael of course. I am delighted to hear that news. I raise again Children's Health Ireland, particularly the waiting list for urological surgery. I have raised complex spinal surgery and the fact there are hundreds of children on that waiting list. Much complex spinal surgery associated with scoliosis, kyphectomy and other complex surgeries has been suspended. These children are suffering, in pain and i…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank him for coming. I think we have reached an inflection point in relation to what is happening in Gaza. The forced expulsion at gunpoint of the civilian population is a war crime, and Israel has done this twice. It has forced Gazans to endure a forced expulsion from Gaza city to Khan Younis and then from Khan Younis to Rafah. Rafah is their final refuge. There are approximately 1.8 million men, women and children trapped in Rafah. They are right up against the border, a fort…

Before I address the Bill, I congratulate the Minister and her Department on the increase in number of people applying for An Garda Síochána. Some people made light of the fact there were older candidates. I believe they bring life experience to the role. It is a good news story and the Minister deserves recognition for that. That initiative was swiftly acted on and pushed through. Obviously, the success of it is evident in the increase in the number. I congratulate the Minister and the Department on that. I am pro…

I am talking about traffic convictions. The Bill is to be welcomed. It is very commendable. I am delighted to see cross-party support. I am particularly pleased to hear the Minister say the Government will not oppose this legislation and will work on progressing matters and having it enacted as soon as possible.

I want to echo the concerns about what is happening in Rafah. We have approximately 1.8 million Palestinians trapped in Rafah. It is their final place of refuge along a line between Kerem Shalom in Israel through Rafah out to the Mediterranean. Based on the reprehensible calculus used by Benjamin Netanyahu, it is likely, if this assault continues, that one in ten Palestinians will either have been killed or maimed during this operation. That is the literal and metaphorical decimation of a population. It is biblical…

No. In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell is here.

I have tabled this matter to ask the Minister for Health to comment on the fact we have 150 children with limb deformities and serious spinal issues who are not being operated on. I know of at least one child who has become permanently paralysed since we raised this issue prior to Christmas. It is of great interest that neither the Minister nor one of his representatives has turned up to take a Commencement matter. Is that a precedent? It is an affront to this House and to the 150 children who are in pain as we spe…

I appreciate that.

This is not personal.

I hold the Minister of State in very high esteem and have great respect for him. The fact that the Minister and the Department have not sent anybody here is absolutely emblematic of the contempt in which they hold disabled children and their parents. The core issue is that two of Ireland's most experienced spinal surgeons came before the Joint Committee on Health last year and called out Children's Health Ireland, CHI, in respect of Temple Street and Cappagh. They said that we have a cohort of children who are not …

With respect, on what basis?

Is the Minister of State entitled to speak?

I know the Minister of State wants to speak.

I tabled a Commencement matter to get an informed response from the Department, not to get somebody coming in here and taking the matter by the seat of their pants. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, but does he know anything about orthopaedic care?

Children in the Gallery, you go home and tell your parents what a circus this Seanad is. Tell them how we treat disabled children in this country.