Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)

Accountability is at the very heart of this. The Minister is new to her role. She has hit the ground running, and I appreciate that. However, what has happened in Cappagh and Temple Street hospitals is unforgivable. There has to be accountability. We can look at it and nod our heads all day long, but at least now we are going the right direction. There will be no more hiding for anyone.

My first speech in the Dáil was about the management in University Hospital Limerick, and it has finally changed. They have a big task ahead of them, but it has changed. I now have somebody who will answer a phone to me. I have a Minister who will answer a phone to me. I have management who will answer a phone to me, and they will listen when it comes to what is happening within the hospital system.

There are some fantastic consultants out there. There are fantastic people across the network of hospitals. Then, we get a minority who take advantage, but that goes back to management. It has to go back to management, and there has to be accountability. Some members of management have resigned now. It is not enough. We need to make sure there is accountability for what happened to those children and their parents.

One thing we should look into is the fact that it is criminal activity if operations that did not need to be carried out were carried out for the reward of money. If this was embezzlement on the part of a company, people would be looking at the money trail. Why not look at the money trail of this and go back to those consultants who took on those operations that did not need to happen? Did they do it for financial reward or did they do it as best practice for the children involved. This report will actually show that.

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