In a Choice Between Safeguarding an inquiry for scoliosis or playing a political pantomime the choice was clear-Michael Collins TD
Leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins has responded to criticism that he and members of his party acted to place the protection of Tánaiste Simon Harris above the need for political accountability for the scandals that have beset spina bifida and scoliosis services overseen by Children’s Health Ireland for the last number of years.
The Cork South-West TD said that while he and his party colleagues have been and will remain some of the most vociferous and effective critics of minister Harris and the policies of the successive governments in which he has served, a majority vote of no confidence would have all but guaranteed that ongoing discussions on the structure of an inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis services that are currently taking place with Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison and other representative groups would have been completely derailed by the political crisis that would have ensued.
He also had scathing criticism of the opposition parties who he accused of engaging in a “deliberate campaign of political deception masquerading as compassion.”
“From a so-called political optics point of view, we knew and accepted that we would likely take a hit. Nevertheless, we are prepared to fully engage and outline why we chose the course of action that we did.”
"We know the decision does not sit well with some of our supporters and we accept that, and indeed understand why there is frustration out there. To us the decision was to make sure there is a public enquiry on the scoliosis issue - our decision was led by the families on the issue and that is what they want to see"
“For better or for worse, in our system of governance only the government can bring forward the terms of reference for a public inquiry or a tribunal. Those terms of reference then have to be agreed upon and ratified by the Oireachtas.”
“The question to ask at this point then is whether a Dáil convulsed in political crisis following a failure of the confidence vote to pass, would have assisted or delayed the ratification and agreement of those terms of reference?”
“To me the answer is clear. The only thing we would have succeeded in doing is to have taken the political scalp of Simon Harris at the cost of removing the spotlight away from the children and the parents. I believe his political scalp is simply not worth the price of establishing justice for Harvey and all of those other children whose lives have been betrayed by the grievous failures of CHI.”
“Sinn Fein and Mary Lou stood up during that debate and explicitly stated “the promise of a public inquiry into the care of spina bifida and scoliosis patients by Children's Health Ireland must be fulfilled.”
“Likewise, Conor Sheehan of the Labour Party, “the public inquiry into this must be wide enough. It must be statutory. It must get the parents the answers and the children the treatment they need.”
“Holly Cairns actually welcomed the fact that an inquiry into the care of children with spina bifida and scoliosis will be established.”
“While we all agree on this, not a single one of them had the courage or the honesty to admit that by taking the political scalp of Simon Harris at this particular juncture of the process, which is ongoing between parents and advocates, we would have collectively worked against their calls for a swift delivery of a public inquiry.”
“Sinn Fein, Aontú, the Social Democrats, the Greens, People Before Profit and others were prepared to stand up and engage in political theatre on this most serious of issues. But by doing so they also demonstrated just how unprepared they were to place the safeguarding of a pathway toward the swift establishment of a full public statutory inquiry, which is what the parents actually want, ahead of their own narrow political interests.”
“In Independent Ireland we knew that our choices must always be aligned with the interests of the children. We needed to prioritise delivering meaningful action even where that runs the risk of facing criticism in the short term.”
Collins concluded with a message to the parties supporters:
"We hear you, we understand your frustration, but we voted in what we believe are the best interests of the families and children concerned and that is to ensure an Independent Inquiry is set up, and the full facts are established. The conclusion of that inquiry will be the time to call for accountability - wherever that may lie"
