Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a general query and I am just using Tallaght as an example. I am sure that my colleague will come back to this for more specific detail. I have a letter from a consultant in the accident and emergency department who is going out on a limb. We know how difficult it is for professionals to do that in Irish society. I will return to the matter of whistleblowers. This consultant highlights the level of overcrowding and the practice of admitting "boarders" - an unfortunate word, but he means people on trolleys - which, he states, "is never acceptable and is dangerous". The position in Galway is similar. It is dangerous. Those are not my words.

I am using different examples because I do not wish to be parochial. We have a situation at Merlin Park University Hospital where the roof is leaking and orthopaedic surgery cannot continue. At HIQA's board meetings, how is the decision made to carry out investigations? Will it return to Tallaght when it sees this? Will it go to Galway and look at Merlin Park where the roof is leaking and where orthopaedic surgery cannot be performed? Will it go to the accident and emergency department in Galway city where people, particularly those accessing the psychiatric unit, are walking out? What is its policy on inquiries?