John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a short report but it is very strong. The work the clerk has put into this is excellent. The kernel of it boils down to chapter two and the recommendations at the end. What we have discovered is that when it comes to individuals it is not possible to put a specific ban on former employees of the HSE. However, the step that needs to be taken is that authority to appoint investigators should be taken away from the HSE. That should be put to one side. That is effectively where we have gone with this. Therefore, even though one cannot ban former employees specifically on a personal basis, taking these investigations away from the HSE, particularly the ones that are extremely sensitive and actually involve potential conflict of interest, is probably the appropriate step. I think that is what the Minister should consider. I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. She is looking at this entire area, including the idea of putting panels together. The work of her office is working in tandem with the report that we have put together. There is an understanding that this area needs to be dealt with once and for all.