I first raised the issue of children enduring unnecessary hip surgeries with the Taoiseach in March. It is nearly two months later and we are still none the wiser about what went on. A draft audit of the surgeries in three hospitals between 2021 and 2023 has been in the public domain for months. That audit found a large portion of surgeries in two of those hospitals were potentially unnecessary. There have been repeated questions about the scandal in this Chamber, but no further answers. The Taoiseach cannot even tell us when the final report will be published.

Now, we find out that families whose children were operated on up to 15 years ago are receiving letters. This suggests that the draft findings of the audit are going to be upheld, and we are dealing with a scandal of nearly unparalleled proportions. It is not credible to say there is no timeline for the publication of this audit. Let me ask the Taoiseach for the third time today - when will the audit be published? If he cannot give us a date, will he explain the lack of urgency in dealing with this issue? Will he tell us how deep the rot goes? Are we facing an appalling vista of potentially thousands of children having endured unnecessary hip surgeries over the past 15 years?

The Deputy said this was being asked for the third time today. I have not played politics with this issue, nor should he. He should not be saying things like "It is not credible". It is an external audit. It is independent of this House, independent of me and independent of the Minister, and that is the way it should be. Therefore, less of the high, self-righteous rhetoric about this. I understand the anxiety that parents have. We want to get to the bottom of it in a comprehensive, independent way that stands the test of time and with that very essential independence the report should have, but also to completion. It was raised three times today. All the assertions have been that we do not want to face up to the truth or reveal the truth. Of course we want to reveal the truth; no holds barred, no holding anything back. We cannot go by a draft report that gets circulated to The Ditch because we have to go by legal and proper procedure,-----

The Government does not have a clue what is in it.

-----which means there has to be feedback. That is what happens with audits if they implicate people.

However, the parents are left in the dark.

They are sent out and they have to come back,-----

I thank the Taoiseach.

There is an early recommendation that they were ready to implement. You do not have clue what is coming up.

-----and so we need completion.

You do not have clue what is coming up and neither does the Minister for Health.

It is just unacceptable that-----

I ask the Taoiseach to resume his seat. I call Deputy Connolly.

-----that kind of deliberate politicisation of an issue should reach the level that it has reached on this issue.

Taoiseach, please. I call Deputy Connolly.