TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has spoken to Harvey Morrison Sherratt’s mother Gillian today and has agreed to meet in the near future.

In addition, the Tánaiste has also sought, through the Minister for Health, a full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey.

Nine-year-old Harvey, from Clondalkin in Dublin, died on 29 July.

He had been waiting years for scoliosis surgery. 

The parents of Harvey, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, had long campaigned for treatment for their son.

After his case was raised in the Dáil by a number of politicians Harvey did get his surgery at the end of November last year.

In recent days, the parents have been critical of the government and the handling of their son’s case.

Petition for Harris resignation

In particular the Tánaiste has been criticised, with the parents stating that they expected to have a meeting with Harris after their case was raised in the Dáil.

This week, they also called for Harris’s resignation and set up a petition calling for the Tánaiste to step down. The petition has close to 11,000 signatures. 

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe today defended the Tánaiste, stating that Harris “did all he could” in terms of engaging with HSE and the Department of Health on Harvey’s case.

He added that respect must be shown to Harvey’s parents, who are grieving, and they must be allowed to make the points they feel are important. 

Asked this week why no meeting took place with the family, Harris said: “When Harvey’s case was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI and sought additional clinical consultations, which I believe did take place.”

“I was always of the view that it was very important that any medical interventions were, of course, clinician-led.”

He added that he said on the floor of the Dáil that he “very, very clearly” wanted decisions to be made by clinicians about the suitability for surgery rather than by politicians, indicating there was no commitment given for a meeting with the family.

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Yesterday, Aontú leader Peadar Toíbín called for Harris to resign, while Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Harris assured her that he would meet with Harvey’s parents “to discuss their son’s urgent situation”.

“That meeting never took place. The state completely failed this bravest, strongest and most courageous boy and his family,” said McDonald.

Toíbín said given the circumstances of Harvey’s last few years, it is unbelievable the pain the family has been put through. 

He highlighted that Harris stated very clearly in 2017 that no child would wait beyond four months before they would have an operation in terms of scoliosis, and yet, Harvey had to wait 33 months for an operation.

“Indeed, he was told in 2022 he’d have the operation. In 2023 the operation was cancelled, and he was then taken off the waiting list without the family even being told,” he said. 

The Meath TD today there are still hundreds of children on the waiting lists. Toíbín added that he has reached out to the Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Health Committee calling for the Tánaiste to appear before it on the matter.