Who is accountable for not keeping count?

HOW many children have died while in the state’s so-called care in the past decade?

Pick any number between 23 and 200 – and you’ll know exactly as much as the Taoiseach does.

Nearly as shocking as the realisation the Government has no idea how many vulnerable kids have died on its watch in the past 10 years, was Brian Cowen’s inability to convey any sense of moral concern or compassion as he spoke dryly about the need to “validate” the numbers as the issue convulsed the Dáil during Leader’s Questions.