Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together.

The report of the Lourdes Hospital inquiry, chaired by Judge Maureen Harding Clark, was published on Tuesday, 28 February. The inquiry was established by the Government in 2004, following the decision of the Medical Council to remove Dr. Michael Neary from the register of medical practitioners, having found him guilty of professional misconduct.

I am conscious that the last few years have been particularly difficult and traumatic for many former patients of the maternity unit at Drogheda. Yesterday, I met Patient Focus to discuss the findings of the report. The question of compensation will now be considered by my Department in the light of the report's findings and in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Finance, with a view to bringing a proposal to Government.

This is a damning report and it is clear from the findings that many lessons need to be learned and changes made to ensure that such events do not occur again in hospitals. The findings and recommendations are being examined in detail by my Department, which will consult the Health Service Executive and the various professional regulatory bodies. The recommendations in the report will act as a significant catalyst in the reform agenda. They confirm the appropriateness of the actions being taken in the preparation of the new medical practitioners Bill, the reform of the current consultant contract and the changes in management systems within hospitals.

The forthcoming medical practitioners Bill will make continuing professional development and education compulsory. It will also ensure that competence assurance will be given a statutory basis. In the current consultant contract talks, the management side has put forward proposals to ensure that consultants work in teams with clear clinical leaders who will ensure that individual clinical practice is in line with best practice.

One of the many disturbing findings in the report is that the obstetric hysterectomy records of 44 patients are missing and that they were intentionally and unlawfully removed from the hospital with the object of protecting those involved in carrying out the hysterectomies or in protecting the reputation of the hospital. The inquiry is satisfied that a person or persons unidentified who had knowledge of where records were stored and who had easy access to those records was responsible for a deliberate, careful and systematic removal of key historical records which are missing, together with master cards and patient charts. In respect of the conclusions on the deliberate removal of patient records, I have invited the Garda Síochána to examine the report to determine whether further investigation is now warranted.

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