Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last night I printed off from the website extensive documentation on the organisation called Merrion Fetal Health. We all know the organisation we are talking about. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong but believe it is interesting that the hospital all the consultants are working in does not have the resources to carry out the obstetric tests although all five consultants are able to put a partnership together in a clinic next door where the tests can be carried out through a private business arrangement. Why this could be valid and while the price might be right, is there any way of knowing? The National Maternity Hospital would be paying taxpayers' money to the organisation. Are such arrangements put to tender? Mr. O'Brien said the HSE receives the audited reports of these companies. Would contracts entered into between senior executives or members of the board of the foundation and third parties have been listed in the financial statements? That would be normal. Has it been highlighted in the organisations' financial statements that Mr. O’Brien has but which we have not been able to see?