Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Government has a role here when report after report shows that recommendations are not being implemented. Government has a role to ensure that those recommendations are implemented. If that had happened in this case, we would not be in this situation. If the Government will not set up a public inquiry into the cases of the families affected, who are calling for that, what is it going to do to sort this out? I asked the Taoiseach whether the Minister will meet with the families affected, as they have requested. Could the Taoiseach answer that question? I agree that the surgeon bears huge responsibility in terms of their unacceptable actions but in terms of the wider issues, it is the families who are saying that there is a gaping hole in governance at Children's Health Ireland. They have been ringing alarm bells about this for years and feel they have not been listened to. If they had been listened to, we would not be in this situation. What will the Government do to sort this out?

See this speech in context