Who exactly is in charge of the HSE?

LAST month the Health Service Executive admitted “full responsibility” for the deaths of Tracey Fay and David Foley, two teenagers who died in the care of the state.

It also commenced a review to determine whether disciplinary action against staff was appropriate, given that the two reports into their deaths clearly identified significant deficits in care provided.

But what does it mean that the HSE as an entity takes responsibility for the death of the children in its care? And how has the HSE managed to become such an out-of-control beast that the Taoiseach – never mind the Health Minister or the Minister for Children – cannot access files on children who have died in care without rushing through emergency legislation?