Andrews seeking advice on Monageer findings

MINISTER OF State for Children Barry Andrewsrevealed he was seeking advice on sending the Monageer report to an Oireachtas committee.

He said the report’s recommendations would need to be taken on board by the relevant statutory authorities and the Ministers responsible.

“Regarding their implementation, I am seeking advice on how I can circulate to the Oireachtas Committee on Health the substance of the recommendations and also ensure that the committee would be satisfied that those recommendations would have been followed through,’’ said Mr Andrews.

“I cannot say what the outcome of that process will be. It is very serious to have recommendations in this fashion. I certainly am constrained by legal advice. There is no other constraint.’’

Mr Andrews said he was doing what he could within the confines of the law, and within the rights of people to their privacy and good name. “I am motivated by trying to improve circumstances in social work services for adults and children, and to publish as much as possible.’’

An inquest yesterday returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the deaths of Ciara Dunne and her two children at their home in Monageer in 2007. A verdict of suicide was returned in the case of Adrian Dunne.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláinsaid precedents existed for putting the uncensored report before the committee so that it could be published under Oireachtas privilege.

Replying to Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly, Mr Andrews said the recommendations published were hard-hitting. The Government was not in the business of censoring or covering up whatsoever.

Alan Shatter(FG) asked why the reputation of individuals should get priority over the welfare of children.

Mr Andrews said he did not believe there was a choice between reputations and protecting the interests of children. “I believe that is a false dichotomy, as I said before. It is possible to do both and it is not an either/or situation.’’

Mr Shatter asked if there were any circumstances in which it would be possible to make adverse findings or should nobody be held to account. Mr Andrews insisted he wanted to publish as much of the report as possible for the benefit of the general public and health professionals.

He accused Mr Shatter of allowing himself “to bathe in self-righteousness in the typical way he addresses this House every time he enters the chamber’’. Mr Shatter said the welfare of children came first, not politics.

Labour health spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivanasked if there was a way to publish the recommendations in full, after removing personal references.

Mr Andrews said he would like to publish as much of the report as possible because he agreed that public confidence could be restored by publication.

Dan Neville(FG) said he profoundly disagreed with the report's conclusion that if the services had intervened with the family on the weekend of their deaths, it was unlikely the tragedy would have been averted.