Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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I am due in the Chamber to speak on Private Members' business shortly so I thank the Chairman.

The HIQA report confirms, in all material respects, the experiences the families had at hospital level, at local level, at regional level and at national level.

I understand the HSE, including Mr. O'Brien, had concerns over the draft report. The report is out now. Does Mr. O'Brien accept the HIQA report, as published? Will he commit here to implementing its recommendations? Can he give us a timescale for the implementation of the recommendations of the report in so far as it refers to the HSE?

As we all know, the report is shocking and damning. One of the points that is most difficult to understand is the lack of humanity and compassion for the families during this whole nightmare. Can Mr. O'Brien give any explanation to this committee and the families as to why the latter were treated with such a lack of humanity and compassion?

The report shows failures at all levels of the HSE. It shows a dysfunctional system with systemic failure and what would appear to be a culture of inaction. Does Mr. O'Brien accept that there have been failures at all levels, locally, regionally and nationally, in regard to this matter?

Let me outline a matter the families are particularly annoyed about. They believe, and have said here this morning, that the HSE was involved in a cover-up and that they were encouraged to sue in the hope their doing so would deflect investigations. One family - Ollie and Amy - told us they were told by the staff at the hospital that they were the only family that experienced this particular difficulty. Of course, they heard since that numerous families were told the very same thing. One wonders whether this was a policy of the hospital and the HSE. There was certainly misinformation, and it must have been deliberate misinformation. Can Mr. O'Brien indicate how this could have arisen and how the family could have been given misinformation deliberately?

The question of staffing was also raised. It was raised in 2006 and again in 2008 but not acted upon. Despite this, it was possible to act on it when these difficulties arose. Families would like to know why, when these difficulties concerning staffing arose, they were not dealt with at the time.

Does Mr. O'Brien believe the HSE is fit for purpose? Is it capable of running the health service? Does Mr. O'Brien accept that only an independent inquiry into this matter would be capable of bringing an end to the nightmare experienced by the families?