Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

To the best of my knowledge, legislation will not be necessary for a redress scheme but it might be necessary to pursue insurers. However, we do not need to wait for that legislation to proceed with the scheme. In other words, we can pursue the legislation while the scheme is under way. I am determined to ensure, if possible, that the State pursues the insurers and that the taxpayer does not carry all the cost of a compensation scheme.

The intention is to go to the Government on this quickly. I told Patient Focus yesterday it will certainly be during March and as early in the month as possible. I have already had discussions with the Attorney General and I will meet the judge next Monday as well as the Attorney General. As soon as all the pieces are together, I will go to the Government to secure approval for a scheme. We will not be found wanting in terms of the speed at which we make this happen. It is important that, in so far as one can bring closure to this sad episode, it is done as quickly as possible.

With regard to the consultant contract, the reason we want a public only contract is precisely that identified by Deputy Ó Caoláin. There is increasing evidence throughout the country that more private patients are coming into the public hospital system. The Government's decision to move up to 1,000 private beds out of the public hospital system is made with the intention of converting those beds into public beds. That will apply in Drogheda, hopefully, as much as it applies everywhere else.

To be fair, the number of consultants in Drogheda has increased from 31 to 62. Last year, €75 million was spent in that hospital. There are still issues in the hospital and I discussed them last night with the management and the representatives of the medical board. Next week, the national hospitals office will be on site with the management to ensure these recommendations are implemented quickly. There will be no excuse for not implementing the recommendations as quickly as possible.

With regard to the new consultant contract, we need arrangements for clinical governance. It is a fact that some staff knew what was happening at the hospital, which was not appropriate. Some staff complained but their complaints were ignored. We need clinical governance at every level in the hospital. We need to have a clinical director in charge of the surgeons and a clinical director on the medical side so that best practice can be implemented on all occasions. If best practice had been in operation in this case, the tragedy would have been avoided for the women affected. It will be part and parcel of the new consultant contract that consultants will work in teams and not as sole operators, and that they will be responsible to a clinical director who will have overall responsibility.

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