Dr. Tony Holohan:

I take the point and particularly in relation to the Chairman's comment that Scally found that individuals are operating without clear job descriptions and clarity as to their accountability. That is a very basic level of accountability and something that must be addressed. I do not want anyone to take any implications from what I am saying in terms of anything I am hinting at, I am not hinting at anything. It may well be the case that the HSE, which is independent and separate from the Department and Government and the Minister in so doing, is operating its own disciplinary code in respect of what happened. That is still open to the HSE and I am not making any inference by saying that. At this point, I would not draw the conclusion that nothing has happened for anybody in the HSE as a consequence of what has happened and what has been found. Dr. Scally has only just produced his report. It is entirely possible that the HSE may well see the need to address issues of accountability for individuals in line with its own existing disciplinary code.