David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

At the heart of this current tragedy, if I may call it that, are two issues, and scandal. The first is the use of these non-medical grade springs. We have had some discussion on it. We must wait for this current review, which is under way, and that might answer questions on procurement. Ms Hardiman is adamant that neither she nor anybody else, other than, I assume, the people who used them, had any knowledge of the non-medical grade equipment. She also said she has no knowledge of being asked her advice or guidance, not only on the use of those non-medical grade devices but also on the techniques which underpin it. A number us talked Ms Hardiman through those letters that she says she did not get. That is Ms Hardiman's testimony to this committee. Obviously, we will have to wait and see what the review says.

The more complex question and, I would argue, equally serious issue is that issue of the high-level of post-surgical complications and the high number of infections, and what caused that. I will go back to what I said earlier. There is a picture being painted that all of this is down to one person. One could argue that, and maybe that is what is being said in relation to the use of non-medical grade devices. It is easy to sidestep a bigger issue, which is whether there are or were bigger problems in Temple Street in relation to why we had that high level of post-theatre complications. Is the lack of ICU capacity, in part, in Ms Hardiman's view, possibly one of the reasons we had so many complications?