Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Chairman, this is where I refer to my oft repeated mention of the chain of command. We do not have a chain of command. The morning after that issue became public, a message should have gone out to all posts that this had happened, what the cause was and stating what action was being taken nationally to deal with a potentially similar issue. It is not enough to say it is being looked at now. The HSE has either been monitoring this or it has not. If it has not, some questions have to be asked. The distress of relatives has been mentioned. It is a serious issue. It is also a serious issue of disrespect for families in a very sensitive situation.

I will return to my question. I do not believe a review is necessary. We should have a report now, and the HSE should have the report weeks after the issue arose, outlining the standard and quality of the accommodation available in all the mortuaries in the country. There is no sense in having this issue hanging about in the background and suddenly there is an embarrassing situation and the Taoiseach and the Minister are doorstepped to deal with it. That is not the way things should work. There is a simple way to deal with these matters - there is either ongoing supervision and appraisal of the quality and standards of conditions applicable at the locations or there is not. If there has to be an emergency every time we decide to improve the situation, that is unacceptable. Has any communication gone to the various authorities to whom we might apply to ascertain whether there are similar situations pending in other areas and, if so, to what extent?