Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I thank the Tánaiste for meeting Patient Focus and those affected as well as the hospital authorities. Legislation arises from this issue and it is important that the Tánaiste indicate the timeframe involved for the redress board, given that the 25-year neglect is at the heart of this controversy. What is the timeframe for the medical practitioners Bill on foot of the 1978 Act? Will the legislation that puts the Medical Council on a statutory basis apply more widely than the original Act or will there be separate legislation to deal with the fallout from the report to which the Tánaiste referred?

Yesterday, Deputy O'Donnell described the lack of charities legislation as farcical and I agree with her. Today, Deputy Glennon has been reported as saying that there is no political will in the Government to deal with the problem of alcohol.

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