RTE reports that the inquiry into events which led to the resignation of Niall McElwee will concentrate on child protection issues and only on issues involving Athlone Institute of Technology. [Update - see below for exact terms]
Barnardos have already expressed concern at the failure to extend the enquiry to concerns around Dr. McElwee’s practice in Waterford Institute of Technology. The inquiry will put together a chronology of events (eh… that won’t be too hard) including the exchange of information between Gardai and the Midlands Health Board and will examine international practice in handling information that comes to light involving practitioners who offend abroad and what the HSE did and could have done.
Now it may be time to call on the Higher Education Authority and/or Department of Education to conduct an inquiry into the promotion and practice concerns which will not be covered by the HSE inquiry.
Update: Thanks to the official for emailing me the terms of reference.
The terms of reference are:
*A documentation and information chronology of what information was in the possession of the HSE from sources such as An Garda Siochana, Government departments and the Athlone Institute of Technology in regard to any matter pertaining to child protection issues touching on or concerning Dr McElwee;
*A description of the existing administrative processes for the collection, evaluation and use of this category of information;
*A brief comparison of the Irish system in relation to this area with comparable foreign states;
*Recommendations for improvements in the way these cases are dealt with.
Maman Poulet: As you know, there is a worried counter-argument out there.
Maybe it would be no harm to acknowledge its existence.
What do you reckon?
Maman Poulet » Dr. Niall McElwee - Report due for completion by end of year // Nov 16, 2007 at 02:58
[...] Posted by suzybie on 16 Nov 2007 at 02:58 am | Tagged as: Niall McElwee The report of Conall Devine commissioned by the HSE into the circumstances surrounding the handling of information on the conviction of Dr. Niall McElwee will be completed before the end of the year. (Terms of Reference here.) [...]
Maman Poulet » HSE is now in the undertaking game // Dec 14, 2007 at 13:24
[...] Posted by suzybie on 14 Dec 2007 at 01:24 pm | Tagged as: Niall McElwee, Athlone Institute of Technology The HSE seem to specialise in publishing burying inquiry reports in December. The Department of Health claim not to know when Brendan Smith, Minister for Children, will be receiving a copy of the report into the circumstances surrounding the handling of information on the conviction of Dr. Niall McElwee. They refer callers to the HSE. The HSE say it’s publication is imminent and due before the end of the month – that means next week. (insert ironic exclamation mark!) [...]
Maman Poulet » The HSE and the Art of Delayed Reports // Jan 29, 2008 at 01:47
[...] Which brings me to another HSE commissioned report to be completed by Conall Devine into what the HSE knew about Dr. Niall McElwee’s conviction of offences in Amsterdam. That report was due by the end of November. Some were told it was imminent, then people were told it was not imminent. The Department of Health who said they wanted the report aren’t really that interested in when it will be published. Maybe the HSE don’t want us to know what they – the HSE – did with the information. [...]
Questions for Niall McElwee, Athlone IT, and others. | Maman Poulet // Apr 15, 2008 at 22:51
[...] | Tagged as: Niall McElwee Five hours into reading the report I think I can agree that it met the Terms of Reference and Conall Devine and child protection consultant Eoin Rush have done a fine job in sometimes [...]