Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before Deputy McDonald contributes, I would like an answer to my question about Ann. Mr. O'Brien said that various engagements were made with the family to persuade them to cease contact with Ann's foster family from 2011 to 2013, but that it took the HSE until 2013 to demand that the foster family cease all care activity, and that immediately after the letter was written to Ann's family to request that they cease contact with the foster family, they did so. Once the HSE made the decision and closed the care facility, Ann's family immediately went along with that decision. Given its awareness of the situation, why did the HSE not close that care facility, which it knew to be a site of abuse, instead of simply trying to dissuade the family from having any contact with the foster family? Surely there is gross negligence on the HSE's part in this matter.