Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Who was in the hospital at the time, who was watching and monitoring will all come out in the report. I will not comment on that. Professor Drumm has already stated that the issues around the hospital have been the subject of some considerable debate and that the HSE is working to solve them.

My view is that to give political directives on these issues is wrong. It is not for us to direct. If there are issues of resources or policy required, the Tánaiste and the Department will do whatever they can in that regard. She and her officials are dealing with all these issues. If I came in here every morning announcing or defending political directives for individual hospitals, or interfering with protocols governing the running of hospitals, that would be entirely wrong.

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