People across the country are horrified at the revelations from Temple Street. Children with spina bifida have been failed by the State yet again. There are extremely long waiting lists and extremely high rates of complications and we now know about the use of unlicensed implants and about non-medical springs being inserted into very sick children. When did the Government become aware of this and what did it do about it? The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is quoted in the media as saying his Department only became aware of the use of unlicensed implants in August but how can that be the case? On 5 July, I stood here and asked the Taoiseach about it. I explicitly said "allegations that unlicensed implants have been used in children." The Taoiseach said "I will certainly let the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, know it was raised in the Chamber and get back to the Deputy." When did the Taoiseach send it across the Minister's desk and what was done about it? On that day, I called for the internal and external reviews to be published. They were only published last night, on foot of reporting in The Ditch.

First, I thank the Deputy and acknowledge that this is a cause of great concern and anxiety for many patients, parents and families attending these services. As the Deputy will know, a comprehensive patient safety review and assurance process overseen by the HSE and the chief clinical officer, Dr. Colm Henry, is now under way into elements of the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service at Temple Street. I understand the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, will be here next Tuesday for a specific debate on this issue.

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It is crucially important that we get to the truth of this matter, that lessons are learned and that all the facts get out there. That is why the importance of the review is paramount. It is important to say that we do not have all of the facts at this point in time. That is why, in fairness, the Minister and the HSE have decided to get an external view. I cannot answer the specific question the Deputy put to me regarding timing but it is potentially something he could raise during the debate next Tuesday.