Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has published thereport of the Scoping Exercise into Michael Shineby Mr Lorcan Staines Senior Counsel (SC). The Minister commissioned Mr Staines to conduct a scoping exercise into Michael Shine after consultation with Dignity4Patients, victims and survivors.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

“I welcome the publication of the report of the Scoping Exercise into Michael Shine.

"I want to acknowledge the bravery of the individuals who came forward to share their lived experience with the facilitator. It is clear that their experiences have shaped the report and its recommendations.

"I would like to express my thanks to Mr Lorcan Staines for the victim centered engagement he has had with the victims and survivors.

“I would also like to thank Dignity4Patients for their collaboration with Mr Staines throughout the process.”

Government has accepted the recommendations of the report in full. Officials in the Department of Health will work in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the victims and survivors on drafting the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed Commission of Investigation. The final ToR will be submitted for Government approval.

The Government agreed on 26 November 2025 to a time bound scoping exercise into Michael Shine to be undertaken by an independent person. This arose after consultation with Dignity4Patients.The proposed scoping exercise was to consider the existing information (previous reports and court cases); the information and request from D4P; the questions of publication of the Drogheda Review (Smyth) report; and to make recommendations for an appropriate and bespoke response.

The Minister for Health appointed Mr Lorcan Staines as the independent facilitator for the Scoping Exercise and he commenced his work on 3 March 2026. The exercise ran for up to 16 weeks.