Happy new ear campaign demand meeting with Taoiseach

The parents of deaf children who are campaigning for cochlear implants are demanding a meeting with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The Happy New Ear campaign said the Health Minister James Reilly has refused to meet them.

The parents want reassurance from Minister Reilly that €7m will be ringfenced to pay for double implants.

Currently children in Ireland who receive the treatment - only have cochlear implants placed in one ear - which the parents have said is not best international practice.

Lorraine Murphy from Happy New Ear said that the campaign now want assurances from the Taoiseach.

"We feel Minister Reilly has failed in his remit that the Taoiseach gave him," he said.

"Therefore we are going straight to the Taoiseach and asking to please meet with us and please give us the commitment that we need and put an end to all this

"Ringfence the €7 million that we need and be done with it."