Taking responsibility for failures of social services

The Independent Child Death Review Group’s report indicates systemic failures at various levels in the Irish health and social services systems.

These problems did not arise suddenly in 2000 but had been on-going for several years prior to this. Brian Cowen was Minister for Health and Children from 1997 to 2000; Micheál Martin from 2000 to 2004; Mary Harney from 2004 to 2011.

Will the Irish taxpayer and the relatives of the 196 children who died see any accountability for the failures that occurred under the stewardship of these ministers?