Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions, although Deputy MacSharry did a good job of covering the territory I wanted to examine, specifically in respect of medical negligence cases where a procedure has to be followed, which I was not aware of and which has been in so far as I can ascertain based on my research involving a number of parliamentary questions over the past few years that have not yielded an answer as far as I can determine. The main issue is that there does not appear to be a process within the HSE, or one that Oireachtas Members have been made aware of through the various avenues open to us, including parliamentary questions, to determine whether there is some form of sanction, retraining or at least awareness building in respect of these issues within the medical profession, including for doctors, nurses and care staff. Deputy MacSharry and the Acting Chairman have hit the nail on the head regarding the provision of information. Should the committee consider writing to the Medical Council to seek a direct example of the processes it goes through to deal with medical personnel who are the subject to medical negligence cases and an outline of its role and follow-up activity with them? It might be worthwhile for us to entertain sending such a letter.

My other query is more about the nuts and bolts of whether the SCA has seen an adjustment following the amendment to the book of quantum in recent years, which the former Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, brought the Houses and whether that resulted in marked savings during the most recent budgetary cycle for the State.