Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach may recall that earlier this year the head of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, stated it would really frighten the public if the true facts were published on the incidence of MRSA in hospitals and the numbers of people whose deaths were brought about either directly or indirectly by MRSA, with it being the critical or a contributory factor. Those were the words of Professor Drumm. Would the Taoiseach agree the reality is that not only do we not know, but Professor Brendan Drumm does not know the full and true extent of this real horror story going on daily around our hospital sites?

One thing we can certainly agree is that this is an alarming and growing problem which must be of concern to every citizen. I wonder if the Taoiseach is aware, as I have become aware in the recent past particularly, that such is the extent of the growing concern about the incidences of MRSA in our hospitals, many people are now afraid to present for admission to hospital? This is particularly true for older citizens.

When I questioned the Minister, Deputy Harney, about this issue over the past couple of weeks, she gave statistics comparing this State with the North of Ireland and regions in Britain. She claimed we faired well from the comparison. However, she failed to state that the island of Ireland and the island of Britain, collectively with Greece, have the worst record of MRSA in all of Europe. The incidence of MRSA in this State is 70 times that in the Netherlands.

Given that the infections contracted and the deaths which result for so many people are absolutely preventable with proper hygiene, management and vigilance, would the Taoiseach advise us of the steps he, the Minister, the Department and the HSE are taking to tackle this very serious problem? Will he encourage, for example, our hospitals to inform patients and the relatives of those who have died with MRSA present at the time of death of the facts and truth of the situation? The hospitals are currently not doing this.

Will the Taoiseach encourage, as I asked of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform last week, other coroners throughout the country not to wait for the coroners Bill but to emulate the Dublin City Coroner's request for the information to be proffered before the issuance of a death certificate? Will the Taoiseach accept that as the 1995 guidelines for the prevention of MRSA infection have not been properly implemented, and that urgent action is now required to address this serious problem, there must be much great proactivity on the part of all those who can bring about best practice within each of our hospital sites?

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