This issue has been raised in the Chamber by numerous Members over recent weeks, but today is really different. The situation has become critical. The health of the people to whom this issue relates is failing and their lives are at risk. I am talking about day 47 of the hunger strike. It is 47 days since this group of survivors of industrial and reformatory schools started their protest at the gates of Leinster House. They are desperate to be heard. Their health has really deteriorated. I visited them last night and was shocked to see the condition they are in. Paramedics visited them this morning. One of the women is down to six and a half stone. Three of them are on antibiotics and steroids. The paramedics who were there this morning are still with them. The protesters are in the back of the ambulance now and the paramedics are concerned for them.

They tell me that they will have to wait until next Wednesday to get a further response from An Taoiseach in respect of two of their most recent asks. They cannot wait until next Wednesday, so I ask that Members of this House work together today to try to get a response for them. What they are asking for is not major at all. There are only 4,000 of these survivors. They are looking for HAA cards and pension entitlements. We need to get this sorted. It is not acceptable that there have been 47 days of back and forth and negotiations. Now that their health is at risk I am really concerned. We asked one of the paramedics if they will get to the stage of irreversible damage and he said that they are already there. We cannot leave them until next Wednesday. We need to get an urgent response for them today in order that they can end their protest. I am told they need to go to hospital. The paramedics will take them to hospital, but we need to work together to get a response for these people.