Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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166. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in relation to the full publication of a report (details supplied) into abuse at a facility in County Donegal; and when the full report will be published. [7719/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE commissioned the National Independent Review Panel to carry out a review of a residential service for adults with a disability at Ard Greine Court, Stranorlar, Co Donegal. The review report, the Brandon Report, focuses on matters of a sensitive nature, and how they were managed.

It is imperative that this report leads to learning, with ensuing meaningful and tangible change. We must ensure there cannot be such serious safeguarding failures in other settings. I have on a number of occasions asked the HSE to publish the report in full.

Having sought the Attorney General’s advice on the matter, it’s clear that neither I nor the Minister for Health may direct the HSE to publish the Report. No legal basis has been identified that would permit me to publish the report.

The Attorney is of the view that it would not be permissible for the Minister for Health to publish the report where the HSE, as the body responsible for publication under the NIRP guidelines, has determined the Report should not be published in full. On the 16th December 2021 the HSE published an executive summary.