Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I cast no aspersions at all.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue matter; I believe it is very important. I asked that this matter is taken because of the ongoing issues, which I know the Minister of State is heavily involved with, around the Brandon report and the continuing situation in Ard Gréine Court, Ballybofey, County Donegal. The Attorney General came out earlier this week with his view that the Minister of State is not allowed to publish the report, but the HSE can, and should, publish the report. I call on the HSE to do the right thing and publish the full Brandon report. It is the least the families deserve in this regard.

The reluctance to publish the report leaves me questioning why. What occurred in Ard Gréine and the lack of action taken by the HSE to deal with it was appalling, but it has at this stage been widely reported on. Much of what is in the report is on the public record anyway, so what is left? In my mind, it is the HSE cover-up and the inaccuracies in the report that would be exposed by publication that now motivates the executive.

I want to give the Minister of State a timeline of my interactions on this issue and ask her if it raises any questions for her. On 7 October 2016, I met with the whistle-blower. He had previously brought the allegations to another Deputy in Donegal, but did not hear anything further from him, and he wanted action taken in relation to them. On 4 November, I met with Ms Denise Curran and handed her copies of documents that outlined the allegations. I have these documents to hand, which are important as well. According to parliamentary question replies, the HSE held four meetings on the issue between then and the middle of July 2017. After that there were no meetings until March 2018. Coincidently, I was on sick leave during this period. In early February 2018, I attempted to contact the head of social care, Mr. Frank Morrison, without success. I then raised the matter-----

See this speech in context