John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, is here on behalf of the Minister for Health, whom I also believe to be a sound and fair man. However, the reply is not satisfactory because there is no indication in it whatsoever that the Minister will meet the support group, SOUND. He should do so and his intervention could be very fruitful for the parents and children, their siblings and extended family but also for the State as it could save it the shame and humiliation that would surely be visited upon it for dragging those families through the courts. I read into what was outlined that the HSE is going to earth on the basis that cases have been filed but there is still an opportunity to stop the cases going to court. They do not need to go to court. The 26 cases are only the tip of the iceberg. There will be more. There is no need for the matter to proceed to court if common sense and fairness prevail. What is going on should be stopped now. The only people who will benefit from the legal process are barristers instead of the State looking after the children affected.