Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Connaghan referenced searchable data and spreadsheets and the technicalities of searching same. I do not think he is correct because an electronic spreadsheet is easily searchable. It is possible to convert documents to searchable format. I do not buy the idea that there is some complexity involved in searching documents. As far as I am concerned the issue here is that somebody made a decision that Dr. Scally was to be given scanned PDF documents rather than electronic hard copies. In other words, rather than give Dr. Scally a desk, computer and password in the HSE to enable him to access the documents somebody made the decision to give him scanned documents, which he has made very clear is not appropriate. I do not think Mr. Connaghan is correct in saying data searching is a complex process. Perhaps, I misinterpreted him. We all do it every day. If we receive documents in PDF format we convert them. I do not understand what the technical issue is and so perhaps Mr. Connaghan would elaborate.