This week I want to raise the case of a 14-year-old boy in Tralee, County Kerry. His name is Daniel Collins.

I apologise for interrupting, Senator, but it might be better if you do not use the name unless you have the permission of the person.

Let me be clear: I would never use the name of a family or a child without their express permission.

I am just going by the rules of the House, Senator Clonan.

Actually, it is an interesting point because this is the situation for disabled citizens in Ireland, where to get any kind of support or assistance, they have to go public with their situation.

Senator Clonan, just to be clear to you, because it is a minor, it also places the name and the actual details of that individual on the record for all time, which they may regret. That is the reason-----

Hold on a minute, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I have the permission of the parents, so I will not be impugned.

You have every right to proceed if you have permission. I am just making it clear.

I will not be impugned in this way. If anybody thinks that vindicating or advocating for the rights of a disabled child will somehow embarrass them in the future, that is an absolute disgrace. I call on you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh to withdraw the formula of words you have just used there and have them struck from the record, because I will not have my contributions here framed in that negative way.

Senator Clonan, I am only making it clear for the business-----

No, you are not making it clear. You are making it unclear. You are creating an element of doubt. You are obfuscating, you are conflating and you are eliding, and I will not tolerate it.

Senator Clonan, you have every right-----

I want the clock set back to three minutes. I am here to advocate for the rights of disabled children-----

Senator, I have no issue-----

-----and I would never raise or mention the name of a child without their parent's permission-----

Okay. Thank you.

-----and if you want, I can hand you the email with that permission-----

No, that is fine.

-----if you are not going to take my word for it.

No, that is okay.

I think we need to start again and I want that formula of words you used removed from the record because I will not have my contributions framed in that manner.

Senator Clonan, I am only making it clear-----

No, you are not. You used a formula of words-----

Senator Clonan, you have three minutes if you would like to continue.

-----that brought me into disrepute and impugned my integrity.

I am not saying disrepute. I am only just-----

I am saying it because that is what you did.

Well, that is your opinion, Senator Clonan.

It is not my opinion; it is an objective fact-----

Senator Clonan, the floor is yours.

-----if you look back at the record.

The floor is yours, Senator Clonan.

I want the clock set back to three minutes.

You can have three minutes.

Can we start again? I raise the case of a 14-year-old boy in Tralee, Daniel Collins, who, like thousands of other disabled children in Ireland, is not receiving the support, therapies or surgical interventions he needs to grow and thrive as a young man. He is 14 years old, he has autism and cerebral palsy and, since August 2024, he has been categorised as an urgent case for spinal surgery. His scoliotic curve has now increased to beyond 90°. If that continues, it will render him inoperable. For the last long eight months, over the autumn, the election, Christmas, January, the inauguration of Donald Trump and the arrival of spring, through all those rites of passage that family have been left completely in the dark with no review other than to say he is an urgent case. Like Mikey Henry, whose case I raised her last week with the permission of the parents, who attended, Daniel Collins is struggling for breath. His kidneys are being affected so he is having renal problems. His breathing is compromised. Like Mikey Henry, and as was the case with the my son, he is at risk of becoming inoperable. I am sorry to say Mikey Henry, whose case I raised last week, has been deemed inoperable. That is in this country. For shame.

I am going to come in here every week. These parents are begging for the cases to be raised and brought into the public domain because that is what you have to do in Ireland to get any attention. I am very frustrated by it and I am very upset by it. I absolutely reject the idea that anybody whose case we raise here somehow has their privacy or confidentiality compromised. They are screaming out for help. Do you not understand that? Excuse me, I am upset. Daniel Collins is from Tralee, County Kerry and Mikey Henry is from Mayo. This is a countrywide problem. It affects every single person in this House. All Members have constituents who are being failed in this manner. The reason they are being failed is Ireland is the only jurisdiction in the European Union where disabled citizens do not have the legal right to surgical interventions, therapies and supports. We are the only one. Even in Trump's America these people have a legal right to treatment, but they do not have it here. Surely we can use our collective will to enact legislation to vindicate their rights. That will then compel CHI and the HSE to do what we are asking them to do. Every single person in this room has the same frustrations I experience with the HSE. They are recidivists, they are incorrigible and they will not do what they are charged to do as agents of the State but they will-----

Go raibh maith agat.

-----spend millions and millions on legal fees and senior counsel to put families like this through an adversarial system-----

Go raibh maith agat, Senator Clonan.

-----and to push back against them getting their treatment. I am asking the Leader that we have a debate with the new Minister with responsibility for children, disability, integration, youth and so on, Deputy Foley, to try to see whether there is-----

Go raibh maith agat, Senator Clonan.

-----a way forward with this. I do not want to come in here every week for the next four years and raise-----

Go raibh maith agat, Senator Clonan. Your three minutes are up.

-----these cases. Let us turn it into a good news story and try to change something for children within the life of this Government.