Social Democrats health spokesperson P\u00e1draig Rice has expressed support for the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and the Scoliosis Advocacy Network after both organisations pulled out of a scoping exercise for a Tribunal of Inquiry into Children\u2019s Health Ireland (CHI).<\/p>\n
Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies deserve the truth about the serious failures at CHI, which include unnecessary surgeries, unapproved orthopaedic interventions, the use of non-medical devices in children without informed consent, and the mismanagement of waiting lists.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a mess of the Minister for Health\u2019s own making. At the very beginning of the 16-week scoping exercise, I and others made it clear that families must be provided with all reports, reviews, audits and governance documents.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, at least 12 documents have been withheld from advocacy groups representing more than 900 families. Despite repeated requests for these documents, the minister has failed to act, forcing these groups to withdraw from the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir decision was not taken lightly as they wanted this process to work. After all, there would be no inquiry without the courage and persistence of advocacy groups and families.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the facts need to be laid out on the table. And all sides need be furnished with the same evidence and information.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe groups are also concerned that the minister has proceeded to appoint her own officials to draft the terms of reference without collaboration or independent oversight. The terms of reference for an inquiry are too important. They must be developed through a process that is genuinely child and family centred.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe minister must make good on her previous commitments and deliver a process that is truly collaborative and transparent. That needs to start with the disclosure of documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
June 22, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Social Democrats health spokesperson P\u00e1draig Rice has expressed support for the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and the Scoliosis Advocacy Network after both organisations pulled out of a scoping exercise for a Tribunal of Inquiry into Children\u2019s Health Ireland (CHI). Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: \u201cFamilies deserve the truth […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16408,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[723,11,642,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-health-ireland","category-health","category-padraig-rice","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n