Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The comments I have quoted from the transcript were made after the involvement of the whistleblowers was raised by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, who said:

I shall ask my final question. The whistleblowers have been fairly damning in their description of the HSE. They feel that they were ignored, set aside, undermined and their professional credibility called into question. That was their experience of dealing with you. How does Mr. O'Brien respond to that?

To be fair to Mr. O'Brien, I am highlighting that section of the transcript for three reasons. First, I want to ensure that what the whistleblowers have done for Grace and for the process is on the public record. Second, it is relevant in the context of Mr. O'Brien's remark about not looking back retrospectively. Third, I want to highlight what they have suffered over the period of time from 2009 onwards. Is there anything to apologise to them for? Again, Mr. O'Brien does not have to answer if he does not want to. It is entirely up to him.