‘Hard to gauge how Government talks are going’
she had already suffered significant brain injuries.
She has significant development delay and has difficulty communicating with others and walking.
On Wednesday Robyn’s counsel Alistair Rutherdale Bl, instructed by solicitor Donnacha Anhold told Mr Justice Kevin Cross that the matter had been resolved following a mediation between the parties.
Counsel said that due to her injuries Robyn, who will celebrate her 10 birthday later this month, has complex medical and physical needs.
Counsel said on the balance of probabilities had Robyn been admitted and properly treated with antibiotics when she first presented at the hospital she would not have suffered the catastrophic injuries she sustained.
Due to the coronavirus situation, it was not possible for Robyn and her mother to attend court on Wednesday, counsel said.
Mr Justice Cross said he was satisfied to approve the settlement figure.
The court was told that Robyn’s mother and her father, Declan Kilgallon, plan to move to a new home which will be fitted out to accommodate their child’s requirements.
In a statement on behalf of the family, Mr Anhold said Robyn had been a perfectly healthy young child when she went to SligoUniversity Hospital.
He said the HSE apologised to the family last week, for which the family was very thankful.
But, he said absolutely no communication had been provided on any measures put in place to help prevent it occurring again. The family would like that to happen in the future, he said.
Any new government should reflect a “significant part” of the vovote for change in the recent general election, according to loclocal deputy Marian Harkin.
The Sligo-Leitrim Independent TD says she - along with colcolleagues Michael Fitzmaurice and Michael McNamara - has enengaged with all of the larger political parties at some level in relation to government formation. The three Independent TDTDs are negotiating as a bloc.
There is also The Rural Independent Group comprising MaMattie McGrath, Michael Collins, Carol Nolan, Michael HeHealy-Rae and Danny Healy-Rae and more importantly, a bigbigger grouping, the Regional Group of nine TDs led by Denis NaNaugthen which would appear to be favourite at this stage to go into government with Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil giving them an overal majority of 81 thus leaving Harkin ouout in the cold.
While forformation bebeen re- at the of agen- the navi- out- across coun- the Fine parlia- party meet- teleconference approval to the party’s in further talks with Fianna Fáil.
However, Fine Gael has yet to formally declare an interest in beginning negotiations about a programme for government with their traditional rival.
The two parties will require the support of other groups or Independents, as their combined seat total of 72 falls eight seats short of the threshold of 80 needed for a majority.
Even at that, a working majority into the high 80s would be more desirable for any prospective government.
Deputy Harkin says that the current situation with Covid-19 means it is hard to gauge how much progress has been made but outlined that she and her Independent colleagues have engaged with parties across the board at an “exploratory” level.
“Covid-19 has changed everything, really,” Deputy Harkin said.
“We had exploratory talks, but I would think that the detailed discussion will be taking place over the next two or three weeks, from now on.
“We’ve talked to all the major groupings – I’ve had a meeting with Sinn Féin, we met the Greens, we met Fianna Fáil twice, and we’ve had a conversation with Fine Gael.”
The onset of the coronavirus has halted efforts to form a new government as the country and politicians across the board attempt to get to grips with the spread of the virus.
Nonetheless, conversations have taken place between the major parties with the general sense being that a historic government involving both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for the first time may be on the cards. Sinn Féin, having won the largest share of the first-preference vote, has also held talks with a view to forming a broad left-wing coalition with other like-minded groupings and Independents.
Deputy Harkin stresses that any new administration must incorporate the message of change voters appeared to send at the ballot box in February.
“In my view, any new government should reflect part, a significant part, of that vote for change.
“We all know the Irish people voted for change.
“It [the change vote] manifested itself in a very significant number of Sinn Féin seats, in a very significant increase for Independents, and for the Greens.”
As things move on and circumstances change, Deputy Harkin says that her main priority remains delivery to the regions – and that this has to be a central part of the policy platform in any future administration.
“We are playing a strong and extremely proactive role. People elected us to influence outcomes and we intend to do that once things return to a post- Covid-19 situation.
“Any programme for government and manifesto will have to look at the current situation and deal with the crisis before looking at a detailed programme for government. There will be certain actions that have to be taken.
“But for us, there are certain principles. Equality of access in terms of services would underpin our manifesto - a fair share to the regions and access to public services.” government talks have placed top the da by cororus break the try, Gael mentary ing held via last week gave negotiators to engage