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.