Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Maria Byrne in her call that the Government should support J.P. McManus's bid to host the Ryder Cup. It would be phenomenal for the mid-west if that were to happen. I would also like the Government to see if it can facilitate Lahinch in County Clare hosting the Irish Open next year. I believe it probably has an excellent chance of succeeding. Certainly, that would help my region, the west of Ireland and County Clare if it happened.

Like Senator Boyhan, my main purpose for speaking today is to commend the bravery of those who appeared on "RTÉ Investigates" last night and to commend Ms Aoife Hegarty and the "RTÉ Investigates" team for the incredible work they are doing in exposing serious wrongs in the State. It is only a short few weeks ago that there was a public outcry over a bishop saying a mass at a particular priest's funeral, and rightly so. That outcry was correct and proper, but I have not yet heard of anybody resigning from the HSE over what happened in this particular case.

I believe that people should be held accountable. It is not good enough. There comes a time when heads need to roll and accountability has to apply and be seen to apply. It is simply not good enough that those people were put through what they have been put through. This is not the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. This is only a few years ago. It is time our society learned and that heads rolled and people lost their jobs over the decisions they make. It is appropriate that we should have the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in here to debate the protocols that are in place.This is only a few years ago and who is to say it is still not happening? As a society, can we say vulnerable children are not being left in dangerous situations?