Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cairns and I wish her the best in her role on the committee. I cannot speak about specific cases so I will not talk about the item yesterday. However, I have taken two steps. I took the first step when I appeared before this committee on the last occasion. I have been watching and listening to how this committee has performed with its engagement with the Ombudsman, the various clinicians, representatives of the HSE and everybody who has appeared before the committee. That is one of the steps I referenced, putting a review into it to build in a mechanism within the next 12 months to see how it performs. It is important to note that as part of the development of the SOP there was a consultation process, an independent clinical review and a legal review by senior counsel. In essence, the HSE worked with it. It is also important to put it in context. What we had before this was introduced was not working. That is why I inherited a backlog of 6,500 assessments of need. Since I took office, nobody has come forward with any other solution as to how I can crack the nut of preventing a build-up of assessments while, at the same, delivering on timely intervention.

Yes, I will be referring to the Attorney General and we will be watching the progress on all this. However, one of the reasons I have appointed an independent chair to review it is my engagement with and listening to this committee.