John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has asked a question that probably should have been asked a long time ago but was not. I have contact with the individual in question and it is clear it has been a nightmare dealing with the HSE, on a professional level, in a number of ways. This particular individual is tough, however, and she is a person of conviction regarding what happened and what needs to be done. It has been an appalling experience. As far as the incidents and the apology are concerned, they will be contradicted. We know the playbook with regard to the HSE. They have put it in writing now. I think I know what happened or did not happen on a number of occasions. We are getting to the end of the road regarding who can provide accountability and the Chairman has alluded to this. It rests with An Garda Síochána. That investigation has ended on one level but, as I understand it, a new investigation could potentially take place. That centres, under legislation on the Statute Book, on whether there is a case to be made for criminal negligence when it comes to the people tasked with caring for these children who, effectively, were thrown into a particular foster home and forgotten about without any oversight in the years afterwards. When the warnings occurred, they were ignored. In one case, serious concerns were documented and backed up and the girl involved was sent back to the home.

We are getting to the end of the road regarding accountability. The Garda may be considering this, possibly for the first time in the State's history, from the standpoint of criminal negligence on the part of State employees regarding the lack of care provided to vulnerable children. I cannot say if that is happening but it is on that basis that any new Garda investigation will proceed.