Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand what the Senator is saying. I will definitely raise this matter with the Minister for Health in order to follow on the issues that have been raised. It is probably no good to say it in the context of the case in question, but a big lesson has been learned here. Before a report is commissioned and the terms of reference agreed and commenced, it is important that the person who makes a protected disclosure and who is part of the process will be consulted in order that they will know the outcome of any report that is produced. People must know at the beginning if certain things are never going to be published, even if the matters to which they relate are to be examined. It needs to be clearly documented that the categories of such information, if they are personal to individuals, cannot be published without their consent. That is fair enough.

I accept that they cannot publish the information. Yet, it is no good coming in here and raising that now. The fault was during the initial stages, when they were agreeing the format of what would be published. This was before the report was concluded. There is a lesson there more broadly than just regarding this particular case. It is a lesson for all public servants and bodies. I will raise this matter directly with the Minister later today.