Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Kelly.

I wish to ask Mr. Breen about the hospital accountability issues. During the break, I discussed this with some of my colleagues. It is obviously an issue of exceptional public interest given the risk to the young citizens of our State. With the financial risk to the State and the ongoing liabilities, it is one of the biggest issues that we face. Going back to the nitty gritty of the relationship between the State Claims Agency and the hospitals, how the incidents are notified and the accountability of the hospitals to the State Claims Agency, I ask Mr. Breen to describe the dialogue with the hospitals. For example, if a risky incident has occurred, is the hospital board ever required by the State Claims Agency to present on the risk incidents that have occurred and the steps it took subsequently? I ask Mr. Breen to answer that question first and then we might go on.