David Hall ‘put bomb’ under officials over Console’s future, Dáil told

Console's interim chief executive David Hall had "put a bomb'' under Department of Health and HSE officials to have a meeting about the future of the suicide charity, the Dáil has been told.

Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath said on Thursday he understood a proposal had been put to protect Console's services.

“Let us remember this is about a helpline for people who are going through a very difficult time in their life and may have suicidal tendencies,’’ he added.

Mr McGrath sought an assurance from Minister for Education Richard Bruton, who was taking Opposition Leaders' Questions, that the charity's services would be protected.

“There has been a lack of political leadership on this issue,’’ Mr McGrath added.

Mr Bruton said he shared the concern that irregularities would have an impact on people in a very vulnerable position.

Primary motivation

Confirming there had been a meeting with Console, Mr Bruton said its primary motivation was to protect services and ensure the workers involved were treated properly.

He added the Government was open to changes in the legislation governing charities if they were necessary.

“This is being dealt with as a priority, and real action is being taken to ensure services are protected and also that governance and oversight are tightened in all of these areas,’’ Mr Bruton added.

Mr McGrath said he understood staff members were owed €86,000.

In recent weeks, he added, the whole country had been saddened and indeed shocked at the continuous stream of revelations relating to Console and how it was being run by the former chief executive.

What happened was a betrayal of trust of those who volunteered their time to Console, their staff, those who donated to it and, most of all, those who used its services.

The real risk was that people would just get tired of the ongoing stream of revelations from the charity sector, Mr McGrath added.