Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I have no doubt the Deputy will raise this point directly with the Minister for Health who is the proper channel. I agree with much of what the Deputy said. We examined this issue in advance of the drafting of the programme for Government in which we stated it was our intention to establish a new committee - the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions - to operate as a formal channel for consultation and collaboration between the Oireachtas and the Ombudsman. It has since been established. I discussed the point with the Ombudsman who is enthusiastic about it. The committee can receive the report and cause the relevant departmental officials to be answerable and invite the Ombudsman to provide for that interaction. This should be done, but it is a matter for the committee which I know is seeking additional powers to send for people and papers. I do not want to trespass on the powers of the Oireachtas, but that matter is before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The committee has an important role to play which is yet to be fully developed.

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