Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am letting the Deputy off lightly. It is important that we agree on the reforms that have been undertaken or are about to be undertaken. We need to be careful when we suggest the political system should cause heads to roll. The former UK Minister, Ed Balls, made an absolute mess of the Baby P case in Haringey when he called for Sharon Shoesmith to resign. It set in train a chain of events that is still unfolding, three years on, and has been the subject of coverage in the British media again this week. We need to be careful to allow the employer in this case to deal with any disciplinary proceedings that are necessary, as it has already undertaken to do as quickly as possible. It is right that people expect accountability not just for the sake of retribution, but also to support good practice. We hear nothing about those who are doing good work.

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