Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am lost for words to be honest. The strength that both of the witnesses have shown is frankly incredible. Vicky does not live that far away from me even though we live in different counties. We will be shouting against one another on Sunday when Limerick plays Tipperary. With regard to the way in which Stephen has told his story in such a short space of time, because he has not known his information for that long, and the strength that he has shown in being able to tell us all so quickly, the mix between his comments and Vicky's is very important.

It is a dynamic in itself.

I very much take on board what Cian said in respect of those questions because he is right. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Health and of this committee, and these guys have been in front of us a great deal. They do not specifically accept what you are saying and they will have to be challenged. We are going to have to go down the path of, almost, looking at individual cases in order to get those answers because they are generalised.

I have a couple of comments and questions for Vicky and Stephen. They can answer in whichever way they want. I was very much taken by what Stephen said about what the consultant told him and what the consultant said when Stephen challenged him. Let me just say that, as far as I am concerned, and with regard to what we all do or try to do, he is entitled to get the answer to that question and we will not leave a stone unturned. Stephen is entitled to know what happened and he is entitled to know what was said during that phone call because it was not that long ago. It is endemic in the context of the cultural issues and other issues we have here, which come right up to this very bloody day. We have to find out. I think about open disclosure and all of the documents with which I and other colleagues were presented yesterday. I counted 35 people between the Department and the HSE-----