Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

HIQA for Tusla and the Minister for the Health Service Executive.

I am addressing my questions to the trinity of Ministers. They are asking us to have confidence in a root-and-branch investigation carried out by the very management that allowed this mistake to happen.

With regard to the six questions posed by Sergeant McCabe, I see a difference in the responses. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, has clarified that two questions have been answered and she is sending that information to Sergeant McCabe. With regard to the other four questions, I am not sure what the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality is telling the House. She seems to be speaking out of both sides of her mouth. On the one hand, she is saying the Government will do its best to give the information and, on the other, she is saying it relates to the very essential nature of the inquiry. I fundamentally disagree with her in that practically every judge associated with every inquiry and tribunal has pointed out that if questions were asked in this House and replied to, tribunals would not take so long and would not be as costly. These are six factual questions. Was there a meeting between the HSE and the Garda on the date in question? I seek a "Yes" or "No" answer. The same applies to the other practical questions. The Tánaiste should please confirm tonight which are the questions she says cannot be answered factually and which go to the heart of the proposed independent tribunal.

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