‘Grace’ report author concerned over HSE co-operation
The news comes as the line minister in charge, Finian McGrath, is coming under increasing fire for delaying the formal establishment of a commission of inquiry into the allegations.
Freedom of Information documents obtained by the Irish Examiner show Conor Dignam was forced to miss several deadlines for producing his report to Government because of HSE delays.
In correspondence in August, Mr Dignam told Mr McGrath that he was forced to seek an extension because the HSE discovered “new documents” which had not been previously furnished to him. “I’m sure you can imagine when I was informed that these documents were to be provided at this very late stage,” he wrote.
Mr Dignam previously wrote to Mr McGrath on June 20 saying he was “concerned” after a phone call he had with the HSE head of legal services that he may not have received all relevant documents. “I understood that I was being provided with all relevant documentation,” he said, adding that such a move would further delay him in producing a report to government.
On April 25, Mr Dignam wrote to then acting minister Kathleen Lynch informing her that he would not be able to present her with a finalised report by the end of the month.
“The HSE provided almost 12,000 pages of documents. During my detailed consideration, it became clear that there were pages missing from my copy documents and that some documents which I would have expected had not been included.”
Meanwhile, Mr McGrath is under fire from Government TD John Deasy over the protracted delays to the commission being established. “Should there be any delays, then the time has come for the responsibility for this be taken away from Minister McGrath,” he told the Irish Examiner.
In response, Mr McGrath said the Dignam report required two legal procedural matters to be addressed in sequence before it could be brought to Government.
Coincidentally, the first of these matters was concluded on Wednesday as Mr Deasy raised the issue in the Dáil.
Steps to resolve the remaining matter are being put in train. As soon as this final legal procedural matter has been addressed the minister will bring the report to government with a view to its early publication, Mr McGrath’s spokesman said.
The minister and his officials have studied Mr Dignam’s report and preparatory work on drafting terms of reference for the commission has begun, pending publication of the report.
