Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of the fact that there is a large number of members present who wish to address the committee on this issue, so I will be as brief as possible. I thank our guests and welcome them. I sympathise with the families. We owe them a debt of gratitude for highlighting these issues in difficult circumstances and against all the odds.

The HIQA report is shocking. It is difficult to believe the degree of failure at all levels throughout the service, local, regional and national. It appears that, at each level, the families were deliberately blocked when trying to establish what happened in their circumstances. Previously, I raised a question that needs to be asked again and needs to be answered, that being, whether the HSE is fit for purpose. Is it fit to organise and maintain medical and hospital services? Undoubtedly, the report is a damning indictment of the HSE at all levels.

I have one or two questions. Are the families happy with HIQA's report and recommendations? Are there recommendations that are not in the report that the families want prioritised? The report is excellent and shocking, but it has at least one deficiency relating to the recommendation on advocacy. I am strongly of the view that there should be an independent statutory advocacy agency or authority. It should also be independently funded. I am not criticising Patient Focus, but many advocacy agencies - I have been through this issue in terms of mental health services - are funded through the HSE. An independent statutory authority that is funded independently is necessary to ensure patients are properly represented. How does Patient Focus view this issue?