Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not a member of the joint committee and appreciate the opportunity given to me as a public representative in County Laois to discuss this issue. I thank the Minister for his input. He is dealing with the issue in an upfront and proper manner. I have never spoken to Dr. Tony Holohan, but I admire his report. It is good to see a professional public servant giving a hard hitting report. Let it offend those whom it has offended because that is how it has to be. It is a template for how issues in the public service should be dealt with.

We offer our sympathy to the families concerned. Their courage in coming forward must be admired. Given that these issues were well known at senior levels in the HSE and the Department of Health, did it take the television programme "Prime Time" to embarrass somebody into doing something about them? Are other issues, known at senior level, not being dealt with? Will the Minister comment on how the staff dealt with the inquests? There are issues about evidence given at inquests. I am sorry if this point was made earlier.

We all agree that we hope this will be automatic, but it is not automatic in the way the public service works. The families have been through enough. Should these cases go before the State Claims Agency? I hope the Minister will instruct the agency to settle them and not drag the families through the courts. The HSE has a legal team, the sole function of which is to get cases into the legal process. There should be no further torturing of the families. If the cases go to the State Claim Agency, please do not drag the families through the legal process, as they have been through enough.