Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

These are cases in which no further action is expected. The second of these was an overdose in 2000, for which, again, no review was conducted. The third was an overdose in 2005. The details of the latter two cases were sent to HIQA in July 2009 to allow the authority to inform the guidance it has prepared so that both the HSE and the Irish Youth Justice Service can properly carry out reviews of serious incidents and deaths in care. It is also preparing a panel of experts to carry out this work. The fourth case, which took place in 2003, also involved an overdose. A confidential report, whose cover note indicated that it was to remain confidential, was completed and forwarded by the then health board to the Department of Health and Children.

The next case was a death by suicide in 2000. Again, there was no requirement for a review. The individual concerned was seen by a clinical psychologist on the day of his death, and the case was the subject of a response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Neville in 2003. The final case was a hit-and-run accident in 2002; again, no review was contemplated at that time.

These cases are all individual tragedies. It is important that, in bringing attention to them, we stress that there is absolutely no intention to cover them up. I have no agenda to protect any reputations, corporate or otherwise. It is my intention that all these reports be put into the public domain as far as possible, but in doing that we must balance the rights of individuals who co-operate with the inquiry and the family members who will be affected by the dissemination of such information with the public's right to know.

The public do have a right to know. Social workers do this extraordinarily difficult work on the basis of a vocation and morale is important. However, morale can be corroded by the absence of fairness and balance when discussing such cases and a lack of understanding of the context in which some of these challenging children come into the care of the State.

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