Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I ask the Minister not to filibuster when answering my question. Was he not in a unique position? The Supreme Court pointed out that in 2001 when he introduced a change in legislation the issue became clear beyond doubt. He is not like any other Minister who served in that Department.

While we accept that the Minister did not receive a comprehensive briefing it is impossible for us to accept that he was unaware of the seriousness of the issue. Is it not possible to send briefing materials to the Minister by e-mail? Is he saying that Michael Kelly was not telling the truth when he stated that he spoke to the Minister on the day of the management advisory committee meeting and that he briefed the Minister on the issues including the nursing home charges? When was the Minister aware of the South Eastern Health Board legal opinion? Did he have no knowledge of that? Following the management advisory committee meeting, did he speak to the policy adviser and special adviser or his Ministers of State on this issue, all of whom had information? He was surrounded by people who were informed. Was he somehow cocooned from the information circulating around him, that he can now maintain he did not know about the seriousness of the issue?

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