Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that it is important individual case reviews are carried out expeditiously, provided they are also done properly and thoroughly. Sometimes that can take time but the fact that they can continue for several months and, in some cases, more than a year is difficult for the patients and families concerned. They want to find out what happened and to be assured it will not happen to somebody else. That should be doable in weeks or months rather than taking six months or a year. The Deputy is correct that it casts a shadow of doubt over the clinicians who looked after the patients. That can cause stress for the clinicians even though it is found in the vast majority of cases that they did the best they could in the circumstances. The issue also arises in respect of Portlaoise. I will put in place measures to assist those involved to complete the case reviews much more quickly.

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