Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the facts relating to this issue.

The Deputy mistakenly alleges certain failures on the part of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. It is important, therefore, to clarify for the House the follow-up action taken by the Department and the Health Service Executive pursuant to the particular parliamentary questions which the Deputy tabled and which were replied to by the Tánaiste on the basis that the matter was one for the executive and had been referred to it for direct reply.

The Deputy's question of 14 June was referred to the executive and resulted in it issuing a letter to the Deputy on the matter dated 6 July. The Deputy raised the same matter in a question on 29 June and this was also referred to the executive in accordance with the Tánaiste's reply on that occasion. The executive replied to the Deputy by e-mail on 9 September, reiterating the position as conveyed to him previously. I am advised the Deputy was in telephone contact on the morning of 29 September with the executive to discuss the matter with the person who wrote to him on 9 September.

This sequence of events demonstrates that the Deputy's question to the Tánaiste was promptly referred to the executive and elicited responses to the Deputy setting out its current position on the provision of the particular service concerned. There was no failure on the part of the Tánaiste or her Department in regard to this matter.

See this speech in context