Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I would like to be associated with the tributes paid by Deputy Allen to the service providers. I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, would also like to be associated with those tributes. I thank Deputy Allen and Deputy Lynch for raising this matter on the Adjournment which I am answering on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children.

I have good news to convey and wish to correct the record as regards some of the information that has been provided in this regard. The Irish Medicines Board is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of human medicinal products in Ireland. This includes the regulation of clinical trials. The Tánaiste understands that activities related to the conduct of clinical trials were suspended in the Mercy Hospital, Cork, on 15 March 2005 due to issues requiring clarification under the terms of a shared care agreement between Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, and the Mercy Hospital.

The purpose of the shared care agreement is to ensure that clinical trial related activities are carried out to the same high standards at all locations. I am pleased to inform the House the Tánaiste has been advised that these issues have now been resolved and that all the parties involved have signed up to the shared care agreement. The Irish Medicines Board today lifted the suspension and the Mercy Hospital has been notified of this. The unit was not closed down and there were no implications for children who are undergoing clinical trials for leukaemia treatment at the unit.

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