Order of Business - 17th December 2008

Order of Business - 17th December 2008
Senator David Norris: This Government is both arrogant and frightened, which is a dangerous combination in difficult times. The doubling of the cuts in the health service from €400 billion to €800 billion or €900 billion overnight is a staggering situation. We need to ensure the service provision is not affected and inefficiencies are cut out.
I was aware of a case a year or two ago of a woman who fought valiantly for her son who suffered from a syndrome, the name of which I cannot remember. It was agreed that the service would be provided and the first stage was the appointment of three managers. Immediately after that, there was an embargo on recruitment in the health service. There are three managers who must be paid and no delivery of service for the child. That is the kind of nonsense that is now not tolerable.
I wish to raise another matter. I asked the Leader of the House about a leak of information from the immigration service. He promised he would get the information, but I have not received it and would like to ensure I do.
I must lay the groundwork for my question to the Leader today. While I will not name anyone and did not do so yesterday, officers of State are accountable. I do not mean to pillory any individual but the office is accountable. I will outline the sequence of events. The then head of the Prison Service was involved in a situation where a chaplain was fired because of an alleged release of information required during the course of an inquiry. A complaint was made to the Equality Authority, a significant part of it was upheld and the Department concerned had to pay an award of €40,000. It was found the release had been illegally used and the former head of the Prison Service and now Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is undergoing an inquiry by the Garda Síochána.
I find that astonishing. A Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was jailed and now the Secretary General of the Department is being investigated. The person involved moved jobs, with which there is nothing wrong, and became Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which has responsibility for the Equality Authority. The authority has now been humiliated and destroyed. It is an interesting sequence of events and we are entitled to some accountability. A background note was issued on Monday from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which confirmed that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern and the Irish Prison Service were vicariously liable for the unauthorised release of this confidential information.
Will the Leader find out immediately what is meant by the phrase "vicariously liable"? Is it a legal term? Does it have any validity or is it an attempt to evade responsibility? The Secretary General involved is not making any statement at this stage; I believe he should.
It says that a Roman Catholic bishop-----
An Cathaoirleach: What newspaper is the Senator quoting from?
Senator David Norris: The Irish Times from Tuesday.
Senator Joe O'Toole: The newspaper of record.
Senator David Norris: It is the newspaper of record, apart from the Irish Examiner which is an equally good newspaper.
An Cathaoirleach: We are not advertising newspapers this morning.
Senator David Norris: We are told a Roman Catholic bishop, on foot of this illegally distributed information, fired the prison chaplain. He was the quasi-employer of the priest. What is a quasi-employer? Can we have a definition from the Leader of the two terms I mentioned? Can we find out if the Secretary General is now considering his position?
An Cathaoirleach: I do not want individuals recognised.
Senator David Norris: What is "vicariously liable" and what is a "quasi-employer"?
An Cathaoirleach: I remind the Senator that Members have privilege in this House and it should be respected.
Senator David Norris: I have respected it. I have not named anyone. I am asking for responsibility and accountability by servants of this State.