Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

12:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

When will the health information Bill be published? When will the report on the death of Mr. Peter McKenna at Leas Cross be issued? This has been the subject of a number of investigations which were not satisfactory. The latest investigation, which was carried out by Mr. Dignam, is now over and the report has been with the board of the HSE since March, which is four months ago. Where is the report and when will the Minister make it available? This issue has been followed closely by my colleague Deputy O'Dowd, but many people feel this information should come to the public domain for further scrutiny, so we can learn from this terrible tragedy.

When will the licensing of health facilities Bill be introduced? It will need to address situations such as that in which a terminally ill lady was kept for 25 hours in the accident and emergency unit of University College Hospital Galway, which is supposed to be a centre of excellence for cancer treatment. That is not excellence, or anything near it, by any stretch of the imagination. We need to know whether the Bill will address this and when it will be introduced.

With regard to the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill, I wish to ask the Taoiseach about some of the comments he made here. There was an implication that somehow the Brothers of Charity must live within the budget they are given, like every other organisation. However-----

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