Taoiseach Micheál Martin has responded to calls for the board of Children's Health Ireland to step down or be removed saying doing so "would weaken governance further" and lead to "even further disruption" to the service.
The Taoiseach was asked by Labour leader Ivana Bacik if he still has confidence in the CHI board after the resignation yesterday of its chair Dr Jim Browne.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Ms Bacik said 233 children are on waiting lists for spinal surgery, including 15 who have been waiting for more than a year.
She said the findings of the HIQA review into the use of unapproved springs in child spinal surgery, in her view, means there are serious questions over the CHI board and whether it should remain in place.
However the Taoiseach said removing the board, or seeing it resign, "would weaken governance even further and lead to even further disruption".
Mr Martin said he "fully understand the trauma" of affected families, including the family of 14-year-old Daniel Collins from Tralee, Co Kerry, who has been waiting 14 months for surgery for scoliosis and whose spine curvature, which began at 22 degrees, is now at 90 degrees.
However, he said given Dr Browne's resignation, a CHI board needs to remain in place as a new chair must be appointed.
Responding to the Taoiseach's comments, Ms Bacik said she believes there are now "doubts over so many aspects" of the work of CHI.
The Labour leader said these include the spinal surgery controversy, the moving of facilities to the new national children's hospital and other matters.
She again called on the Taoiseach to clarify if he continues to have confidence in the CHI, and said in her view an inquiry in the similar form as that set up in the wake of the Cervical Check scandal should now be considered.
However, the Taoiseach again responded by saying while "no one's happy with this and I'm certainly not happy", it is important that any next steps do not "create further disruption".
He said CHI has overseen "a lot of good work too, that needs to be said" and that officials will continue to meet with the group's board and the HSE.
'Ethical question' on public inquiry
Mr Martin also told the Dáil that since 1998, "half a billion has been spent on public inquiries" and said there is "an ethical question" if this is the best option.
He was responding to Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan, who noted that Mr Martin had ruled out a public inquiry into CHI in the Dáil yesterday.
Sinn Féin's Spokesperson on Health David Cullinane said the audit of CHI will cover the period 2021-2023, but he is aware of people with concerns outside that timeframe.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said that she is open to any case being brought to her and encouraged those present to do so "in the earliest course".
In response to calls for the board to be dismissed, she said: "I need to get the other two reports. I need to consider the governance in the round".
