Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

Would the Tánaiste not admit that codes of conduct and the guidelines she has outlined have failed patients? Let us consider two major ongoing events. The consultant medical oncologist in Cork University Hospital, Dr. Seamus O'Reilly, wrote to the Tánaiste outlining his serious concerns about the treatment of cancer patients at that hospital. Does she agree that if he had published that letter in the local newspaper, he would have been brought before the hospital's management and reprimanded for discussing such issues in a public forum? Under the codes of practice mentioned by the Tánaiste, he would not have been protected from highlighting concerns about the care of patients for which he is responsible.

In two weeks the report into the activities of Dr. Neary will be published. We will need legislation to protect patients from what was carried out by Dr. Neary in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The same codes of conduct mentioned by the Tánaiste and the same guidelines issued by the Medical Council were in place when many of these events occurred. The people who want to protect patients in the system need the protection of the Oireachtas through legislation. Does the Tánaiste agree people trying to protect patients should have that protection? Codes of conduct have failed and anything else proposed by the Tánaiste will not give the type of people about whom we are talking, whistleblowers, the protection whistleblower legislation or any legislation properly passed through the Oireachtas would give them.

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