Leaders have rowed back on a promise to hold a tribunal of inquiry into what happened, it was revealed yesterday. Instead of tribunal they will have a private commission of inquiry.
Aontú leader Tóibín said: “There is often a family or a campaign or a group of people who battle for years for fair treatment or against grave wrong or even criminal acts that have been carried out by agencies of the state.
“When campaigners have created a mountain of pressure, when the government’s back is against the wall, then they do something. They have to be forced into it.
“They meet with families and campaigners, the government speak sorrowfully in measured tones, they accept wrongdoing and a promise that truth and justice will be achieved.
“They promise to put the families at the heart of an investigation process and to take direction of victims and survivors.
“But then the government dilutes and quietly deletes commitments made.
“Cervical Check crisis. The Women of Honour and now it is happening with families who have suffered so much from wrongdoing in Children’s Health Ireland.
To put maximum pressure on the government for a full public investigation, we in Aontú tabled a motion of no confidence into Simon Harris. Harris as Minister for Health promised that no child would wait over four months for an operation. He failed in that promise and every single Minister for Health since has also failed.
“As we stand here today there will be no Tribunal of Inquiry as promised by the Ministers. There is no agreed mediator. There is no independent clinical expert. There has been no direct consultation with children. They should reverse from this counterfeit commission of investigation.”
