Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

On Tallaght Hospital, the head of the National Hospitals Office, Mr. John O'Brien, has been in discussions with Tallaght Hospital on issues there as a result of both the process mapping that was done of the hospital and its procedures and policies. The hospital had very high levels of elective admissions this week, as it happens. Over a two-hour period it seems the numbers on the trolleys could be reduced by 45 people. I do not know why that could not have happened earlier and there is no excuse for it. I spoke to Mr. John O'Brien yesterday and he is holding a number of meetings with the management of the hospital on that issue.

I heard the Chief Whip's comments this morning. I was available by telephone although I was not at the Cabinet meeting, being in Canada. The Chief Whip informs me it was a matter of courtesy in a partnership Government. A decision like that was not going to be made in my absence.

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