Joe O'Toole (Independent)

In discussing the issue of where we are with the banks and the economy, we should consider the growing list of FitzPatrick, Mansfield, McNamara, etc. and put to bed one idea. Whatever criticism there has been of the Government, it has not sought to bail out builders and developers. Let us get that out of the way for the moment because that distracted from our focus. It is right that we all should focus on NAMA and the banks, look honestly and come to honest conclusions, but at least the phrase of bailing out builders and developers has gone from the lexicon, and that is good. The next matter is to see how we deal with the banks and how we ensure people are brought to book over the next few months, and it is important that the Government shows us its commitment to doing exactly that.

I share the views articulated by Senator Cummins about the latest HIQA report. I have rarely criticised the HSE in this House. Many of the issues that have arisen repeatedly have been historic issues coming to light. The importance of this week's report is that there was a report last autumn, measures were supposed to have been put in place and the HSE gave commitments to us, to HIQA, to the Department of Health and Children and to the world at large that all the issues raised were being dealt with. Six months later, HIQA goes back to reassess, see where they are, and comes up with an astonishing report. The report reflects all the points raised by Senator Cummins and caused such obvious dismay in the Department that the Minister wrote to express her views to the chair of the HSE. The reality is that we have abandoned children. They are lost in society somewhere, out of touch and out of contact, with no files on them, no contact with social workers and no consideration or assessment of the condition in which they are being kept, fostered and maintained. This, surely, is proof positive that the HSE is not fit for purpose in this regard, whatever about in other matters, and we should state that clearly. The HSE should be relieved of this responsibility. These children do not get another shot at the last year in foster care. They must put up with the pain. For a State agency such as HIQA, which is balanced in its statements and consistently produces balanced, evidentially based reports, to come out with a statement to the effect that there is a potential dereliction of duty on the part of the HSE is a clarion call to politicians and public representatives. We cannot ignore this and we must take action. I wish to hear what action the Department of Health and Children and the Minister can and will take on this issue on foot of the report to ensure children are not in an unsafe fostering environment, that their cases are properly maintained, filed, managed, recorded and safeguarded. I call for this to be done as a matter of urgency and for this call to be communicated by the Leader to the Minister as soon as possible.