Anger over role given to Watt in autism review
THE head of the Department of Health who was accused of trying to ‘gag’ an RTÉ documentary, will conduct a review into the State’s ‘secret’ dossiers on children with autism, it was revealed yesterday.
The Prime Time Investigates documentary, which aired last Thursday, revealed allegations that the department was collecting confidential details on children with special needs who sued the State.
The explosive revelations prompted Taoiseach Micheál Martin to order a new review.
Minister for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte told the Dáil yesterday that Robert Watt, acting secretary general in the Department of Health, will head up the review.
But this prompted angry scenes in the Dáil yesterday with one TD saying it was ‘nonsense’ that Mr Watt would carry out the review into his own department.
It has been reported that Mr Watt called RTÉ’s director-general Dee Forbes before the airing of the documentary. Neither RTÉ nor Mr
Watt have confirmed to date the details of that conversation. And last week Mr Watt released a statement claiming that the department did not act ‘unlawfully’.
Fine Gael TD Michael Creed yesterday paid tribute to the civil servant whistleblower Shane Corr who revealed the alleged practice in the Health Department, before expressing concerns over Mr Watt’s role in the review. ‘I would like to hear the Minister for Health specifically saying that he has spoken to the acting secretary general in the Department of Health on the matter,’ added Mr Creed.
Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said: ‘How can you appoint the secretary general that tried to gag RTÉ?’
And Leas-Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly told the Dáil she does not accept the proposed review. ‘I don’t accept it whatsoever. It is not independent,’ she said. ‘At the very least, let’s have a full and frank discussion in this Dáil with senior Cabinet ministers being held to account in relation to a department that is clearly out of control. I say that reluctantly because they have come forward and said, “We have done nothing wrong” and now they are going to investigate that they have done nothing wrong. And, you are asking us in this lovely establishment to think that is not nonsense,’ added Ms Connolly.
Last night, Mr Watt issued a statement saying that the Department of Health has appointed Donie O’Shea as an independent support liaison officer to engage directly with the families.
Mr Watt stated: ‘The department can confirm that no more than 35 families are involved in open litigation related to these allegations. Each of these families will be contacted shortly through their solicitor offering the opportunity to engage directly with the independent support liaison officer.
‘The department regrets the distress recent media reports may have had on the families involved and is taking steps to ensure that they, and others associated with autism services, are listened to and supported.’
‘It is not independent’