Richard Bruton defends HSE's funding of Console despite irregularites

Education Minister Richard Bruton has defended the HSE’s continued funding of national suicide charity Console despite being aware of irregularities for many years.

Under questioning in the Dáil, the minister said the HSE had not ignored the issues that were identified in 2009 and instead said staff had been “watching closely”.

“While this is very uncomfortable, this is the system working,” he said during leader’s questions as he defended the HSE.