Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Yesterday, I took the advice of the Ceann Comhairle and attempted to raise an issue involving the HSE during the Adjournment debate. The Ceann Comhairle kindly accepted the motion on the Adjournment, which relates to the latest child to go missing from HSE care, this time in Cork. She has been missing since 26 January and I raised the issue last night in order to establish some facts from a representative of the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, who was not able to be here. The response was that the HSE is not in a position to provide information in respect of the issue raised due to ongoing industrial action.

Have we reached a situation where a Member of this House cannot ascertain facts on an Adjournment debate about missing children who were in the care of the State, who are now on missing persons lists with their names and photographs on the ie.missingkids.com website? I believe this matter is in order. Is the Government putting a facility in place that will allow it to answer questions and provide satisfactory answers to Adjournment debates and motions before the House while there is industrial action so that we can get answers to serious issues like the one I raised last night?

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