THE Minister of State for Health said he would publish the Western Health Board's report on the Kelly Fitzgerald case if he could.
But it was not his report, Mr Austin Currie added. The Western Health Board had initiated the inquiry and selected its members and it had responsibility for its own report. "It took a decision, based on legal advice, not to publish."
He was replying to the Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn, who called on him to overrule the board's decision. There was a need, she said, for openness, transparency and accountability about the mistakes of the past.
Otherwise, there would never be a way to ensure that the genuine efforts of members of the House, and officials of various departments and health boards, could improve services.
Earlier, Mr Currie said he wanted to reiterate that both the Minister for Health and himself were extremely concerned about the difficulties impeding the publication of reports of inquiries into child abuse cases.
"It has been our unequivocal position since we took up office that as much information as possible should be put into the public domain. Above all, we are most anxious to avoid suggestions of a cover up in any case involving a health board or child care agency.
It had become increasingly clear that a change in the law was required to overcome the difficulties encountered in publishing such reports, and that was why an inspectorate of social services was established, on a statutory basis, within the Department of Health.
