Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Until such time as the investigative processes are completed, none of these 13 individuals will be engaged in the health service. Obviously, we cannot speak to what else they might do elsewhere. However, the people who were directly employed during the period when they were put off duty still are subject to their employment contracts and should not be engaged in alternative employment. In addition, they are not permitted anywhere near Áras Attracta during this period. In view of the duty of ongoing care we have towards them, the human resource function remains in contact with them as is appropriate to the circumstances.

On the issue of culture, we have just completed the first employee engagement survey, which is the term that is used for cultural measurement. While these have been embedded in other health systems - such as the one in our nearest neighbour across the channel that has been in place for more than a decade at this point - this is the first one we have completed. It is a baseline study, the results of which we do not yet have as it still is being analysed. The overall level of participation was modest as compared with more established surveys but it is not out of line with where they started and consequently, it is a beginning. As the Senator correctly identifies, there are fundamental issues of culture. The organisation - I refer to the HSE - does not have a homogenous culture.

The manner of its creation did not facilitate this at the time nor since. We are also very conscious that there can be some pockets where culture is an issue, which appears to have been a factor in this instance. The process in which we are engaged is about wider service delivery in the community that the HSE directs, as well as by by bodies that we fund. One of the key themes was how we should begin the process of establishing a common culture - the right common culture - which would be focused very much, as one of the advocate representatives put it, on emphasising the service provided.

In regard to the specific actions taken, I ask Mr. Healy to speak about them. On the specific questions about resourcing in terms of quality and patient safety, I will ask Dr. Crowley to respond to them.