Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Can I ask a more personal question? As a result of the recent fallouts over the cervical cancer thing, it is generally thought by the public that no one in the HSE can be touched or moved aside. I am not picking on any individual but if a member of personnel is not up to scratch and not doing his or her job, are there sanctions in which the person can be moved aside or sacked if necessary? It is important because of the recent scandals, or whatever one wants to call them, that the public is assured that if someone is not up to scratch something will happen. If people in other Departments, particularly in other countries, are not up to scratch they are taken out or moved aside. In this country, the public's opinion is that no one in the HSE can be touched and that no matter what goes wrong no one takes responsibility, no one is moved aside, demoted or moved to some other Department and the person is left in his or her position and the thing just goes on. Can Mr. Connaghan answer that question? It is important with regard to the public having confidence in the HSE.