THE HEALTH Service Executive has hit back at criticism by Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly over its failure to hand over files on children who died in care to an independent review group.
While Ms O’Reilly said she was bewildered by the HSE’s refusal to hand over the files, as well as by suggestions emergency legislation was required to allow for their transfer, the HSE insists it is only obeying the law. Laverne McGuinness, a national director with the HSE, said it has never refused to provide information it is authorised to provide.
"Sometimes it is simply not within our power to disclose information to third parties regardless of their statutory powers," she says in a letter in today's Irish Times."It is unfair, therefore, for the HSE and its staff to be openly criticised for operating within the law..."
The Government said last week it would bring forward legislation to facilitate the handing over of files of children who died in care to the review group.
The group was established in March to review deaths of children in care over the past 10 years. Ms O’Reilly had questioned the need for new legislation.