Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like Dr. Colm Henry as the chief clinical officer to respond in a moment but I undertook to examine and have personally reviewed the issue, which is something I would not normally do. In light of the significant comments of Mr. Justice Peter Kelly and Deputy Donnelly's own correspondence with me, I wrote to the director general asking for an urgent response. I received a significant volume of information, which I do not feel is appropriate to share in a public forum, about one individual. I have been provided with information and assurance of a system that is largely - I want to decouple what I am going to say here - a system that took swift action when an issue came to light. In respect of a doctor who was working in a hospital for a very short number of days under supervision at all times at a very junior level, the proper procedures were followed very quickly and we know where that case ended up in terms of the Medical Council complaint.

I want to say to people watching, to people using our health services and to doctors in our health services that almost 23,000 doctors are registered with the Medical Council. In 2017, the last year for which figures are available, there were approximately 300 complaints and three doctors were struck off the medical register. The idea that there is a widespread of issue of doctors, whom I have heard referred to as rogue doctors, wandering around our hospitals is not borne out by evidence. There is an issue, though, which Mr. Justice Kelly and the Deputy have rightly highlighted, in respect of our recruitment process and making sure there are learnings from this case. I can assure him that in respect of the composition of the interview board, references and the use of a scoring technique, all the proper procedures were followed. This doctor was placed on a panel and called to fill a post. He was supervised at all times and when it became clear that he still lacked the competencies that were required, swift action was taken.

I have taken appropriate action. I have written to the HSE and received correspondence back, which I will consider in full. I will also consider the process which the HSE might now outline and which they are undergoing in respect of reforming the recruitment model. I will also meet the Medical Council specifically on this issue. I am scheduled to meet council representatives shortly; I will confirm the date with the Deputy. The Medical Council has also highlighted its concerns to the HSE. There is an issue we need to fix here in respect of the recruitment process, not just in this matter but also in the general streamlining of our recruitment processes. I very much accept the Deputy's bona fides and do not believe it is what he wished to suggest, but to announce a widespread audit would cause undue concern and it would be disproportionate. I very much welcome the IMO's comments in this regard last weekend. The appropriate thing to do is review the case, which I have done, make sure learnings are applied across the HSE and that the recruitment model is reformed, and meet the Medical Council. If, after that, I believe further action is required, I will take it. It might be useful to hear from Dr. Colm Henry as the chief clinical officer of the HSE on this matter.