Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I find the letter shocking. I have serious questions over the fact that the director general has put his name to this. I am not given to extreme statements but am inclined to make one when I see a new director general coming forward in a situation like this, where there was clear evidence from the State Claims Agency, to say he decided to bring the two together to have a meeting. We have no minutes of that meeting. He refers to an "apparent difference". There was nothing apparent about it; there was a difference. Now we are talking about apparent differences, assumptions and consistencies. There is something seriously amiss. I find this letter totally unacceptable. The last line states: "Hence the HSE and SCA are satisfied that the apparent difference around the understanding of the communication with the women has now been resolved." As a member of this committee, I believe nothing has been resolved for me. There was no "apparent difference". It has already been said this is a very serious issue. We have only a very limited, specific role in it. When we are given differing accounts as evidence, it is then up to us, not the HSE, to make decisions on how to resolve it. The representatives of the organisations in question, including the director general, need to appear before us again. We will hear what has been said and we will make conclusions in our report. We have no choice but to do that. I say that most reluctantly because there is a much bigger issue here for the women. We need an investigation as quickly as possible. This is now undermining confidence even more.