Former minister Kathleen Lynch knew of HSE audit of Console

The former minister for mental health, Kathleen Lynch, was aware that embattled charity Console was being audited by the HSE but said her main concern was that its counselling was not in question.

Ms Lynch said she was made aware of the HSE investigation last spring. She thought the audit was routine.

The department’s then senior minister, James Reilly, had been alerted in 2013 by a former parliamentary assistant that there were concerns around Console. He told the former assistant to put them in writing through formal channels. The eventual HSE audit was prompted by concerns made by the National Suicide Prevention Office.