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cases where the role of public authorities has already been investigated and reported upon by the commission. On the treatment of protected disclosures by whistleblowers, the commission’s statement on part X does not identify further information that would point to the merits of embarking on further investigation … into how the protected disclosures were treated or the treatment of those making protected disclosures. In that context and on the advice of the Attorney General, there is no basis for moving forward to a phase 2 of the commission of investigation. However, it is important to take

parents of those kids who are affected are probably sitting on the same bench as us. I did a lot of work on protected disclosures, and one of the big things with protected disclosures was flipping the reversal of the burden of proof. I still feel that

Deputy knows well that the new procedures and protocols governing protected disclosures have been processed under the policy in place to handle such matters. I have been assured that the independent investigation by GSOC, which is investigating this matter, will be completed in due course, notwithstanding the time … already lapsed since the protected disclosure was first made. Obviously, the various bodies - the Director of Public Prosecutions and GSOC itself - must continue their investigations before I can comment. I am not in a position to comment at this stage until those investigations are complete

Taoiseach may have seen reports in the Irish Daily Mail on protected disclosure which detail how confiscated weapons, including automatic firearms, ammunition and explosives, were being held at Garda headquarters in a container secured by a very simple combination lock. The report suggests that much of the weaponry … later seized from another criminal gang in 2023. The newspaper report suggests that the Taoiseach has had sight of the protected disclosure. Can he let the Dáil know whether he is satisfied that the facts contained in the report are true, and if so, what action will

transition to the new children's hospital, it provides the best quality care with the highest standards of governance, management, ethics, open disclosure and communication between families and medics. However, we simply cannot say that was provided to the children and families failed by the scandal of unnecessary … feel like that after a child has had surgery. At the very least, those parents now deserve certainty and clarity. There was a protected disclosure in September 2023 and the Department was notified in May 2024 but the audit that started in summer 2024 has yet to complete

high-risk surgery. The sense of failure, hurt, anger and helplessness on the part of parents is compounded by the lack of full disclosure of surgical intervention and its attendant risks. HIQA also found that the management of the issues, once disclosed, could have been better. We need … ongoing clinical audit examining surgical practices at CHI and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh. The issue was brought to light through a protected disclosure in September 23, and it centres on concerns that different thresholds for corrective surgery were being applied across sites. In practical terms, this means

commenced from March onwards. The hospital authorities are obviously taking on board the concerns and so on. It was raised initially via a protected disclosure in September 2023 relating to different thresholds for surgery being applied in CHI and the national orthopaedic hospital in Cappagh. The Department

contact someone directly in the Minister's office? Can I ask directly that each of those families be communicated with? The 2023 protected disclosure led to the then Minister being informed in May 2024. If we are that concerned about the children of this country

damaged these children. It is an incredible situation that the Government is standing strong behind CHI in this situation. A whistleblower made a protected disclosure to the Department in September 2023. There are key questions around that. We need to know whether the surgeries continued after that whistleblower

delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — Children's Health Ireland (CHI) was made aware through the protected disclosure process of a concern relating to the threshold criteria being used for surgical intervention in relation to development dysplasia of the hip (DDH) September

transparency. All who are potentially impacted must be provided with certainty because it is not acceptable that today, nearly 18 months after a protected disclosure that was made to Children's Health Ireland, so many remain uncertain. If there is to be a break from all the scandals

people we can trust and we entrust our children to their hands, yet we see such a failure for so many families. A protected disclosure to the Department of Health happened in September 2023. If it emerges that unnecessary surgeries continued beyond this point, there are serious questions

uncovering this and putting in place effective measures to bring the practice to an end. It fell to a whistleblower to make a protected disclosure. Even then, the Government response was slow and marked by empty promises and hollow reassurances. According to media reports, there were concerns among

relating to different thresholds of surgery being applied in CHI hospitals and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh were initially raised internally in CHI under protected disclosure arrangements in September 2023. The Department of Health was notified about this matter on 9 May 2024. The audit process, as I have

does not tolerate anybody who steps out of line when it comes to protect the public interest. I refer to people whistleblowing, making protected disclosures or just trying to do the right thing. We saw the farce regarding the issue with a bicycle last year. There are also

alarmingly high infection rates in certain hospitals, which should never be allowed to happen. We then have the IT systems issue. Protected whistleblower disclosures suggest, for example, that chemotherapy procedures for children at Crumlin are being cancelled because the IT system is totally inadequate, with on overdependence

interests of balancing the right to privacy, the right to healthcare and the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prohibit the disclosure of counselling records in criminal proceedings in criminal trials for sexual offences; and to provide for related matters. I welcome survivors, therapists and relatives … case-by-case basis to have their notes excluded. This needs to be made privileged. We need to adopt privilege and protection for counselling because this malevolent tactic is being used more and more since 2018. The onus is now being put on victims to give their notes

afraid of repercussions as it basically fecked up the first operation. The mother is willing to engage with the HSE and sign a disclosure to say that the issue is gone once the HSE sorts out the child, but it will not even engage. I pity the Minister … like any of us in any job. We are not going to be told the truth by everybody because they are protecting their own patch. I appeal to the Minister. I will tell her straight out that anything I can do to assist her, I will

matter are of great concern to parents and guardians and to many children who are awaiting future hip surgery. There was no disclosure of concerns from the previous Minister for Health although he had been made aware of these serious allegations as far back … State. A full plan must be put in place to assist and help all families affected by this abject failure to protect their children. I will quote one of the mothers, who referred to: the absolute scandal of huge sums of money being used on unnecessary hip operations

recently. On Tuesday, we had the damning report on how unauthorised springs were implanted into three children during spinal operations. The failure to protect these children is an absolute disgrace. There is a pattern of broken behaviour when it comes to children's healthcare. It is the same … health Minister has known about this for a year but parents were only told about it last week? Where is the open disclosure? Where is the compassion in that

transition into the new Children's Hospital that it provides the best quality care with the highest standards of governance, management, ethics, open disclosure and communication between families and medics. In our earlier debate, I said that trust was at the heart of our healthcare system and that … Minister to consider our motion, look at what we are proposing, implement it and do everything that she possibly can to protect those children

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of protected disclosures made internally in An Garda Síochána since the commencement of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; and of that number, how many were upheld in favour of the confidential reporter in terms of the alleged wrongdoing

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the date on which a protected disclosure was received by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) regarding pelvic osteotomies conducted on children for development dysplasia of the hip; the actions taken on receiving the protected disclosure and the people and organisations

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice to provide a schedule of the number of protected disclosures made to An Garda and GSOC from 1 January 2018 to date in in 2025; the number of these disclosures that were accepted by the mentioned competent authorities; the number

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the earliest date on which she was made aware of protected disclosures regarding unnecessary pelvic osteotomies conducted on children for developmental dysplasia of the hip at several Dublin hospitals; the action taken on being informed. [17552/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the earliest date on which her Department was made aware of protected disclosures regarding unnecessary pelvic osteotomies conducted on children for developmental dysplasia of the hip at several Dublin hospitals; and the action taken on being informed. [17553/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the earliest date on which she was made aware of protected disclosures regarding unnecessary pelvic osteotomies conducted on children for developmental dysplasia of the hip at several Dublin hospitals; who she was informed by; the action taken on being informed

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the earliest date on which her predecessor was made aware of protected disclosures regarding unnecessary pelvic osteotomies conducted on children for developmental dysplasia of the hip at several Dublin hospitals; who he was informed by; the action taken on being

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the earliest date on which her Department was made aware of protected disclosures regarding unnecessary pelvic osteotomies conducted on children for developmental dysplasia of the hip at several Dublin hospitals; who the Department was informed by; the action taken

serious concerns at Children’s Health Ireland and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh regarding pelvic osteotomies when the Department was aware of a protected disclosure as early as 9 May 2024; and the reason surgeries were continuing in 2025 if they were not suspended. [17570/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if parents and guardians were informed of the clinical audit or protected disclosure relating to pelvic osteotomies at Children’s Health Ireland prior to March 2025. [17571/25

manner in which they were informed; the date on which they were informed; if such surgeries were ever suspended due to a protected disclosure or a clinical audit; and if so, when. [17576/25

manner in which they were informed; the date on which they were informed; if such surgeries were ever suspended due to a protected disclosure or a clinical audit; and if so, when. [17577/25