U-turn as state forces HSE to hand over files

THE Government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn last night as it readied emergency legislation that will force the HSE to reveal the number of children who died in state care during the past decade.

Opposition leaders expressed outrage at the situation, as less than 24 hours after Children’s Minister Barry Andrews insisted no new legislation was needed, the Taoiseach said measures are to be pushed through the Dáil to get the HSE to hand relevant files to a Government probe.

Fergus Finlay of Barnardos described the move as “mind boggling”.