Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The provision of cancer services is the central issue in the debate about the current debacle that has highlighted the incompetence of the Minister for Health and Children. While I have asked questions about this matter on a number of occasions, little clarity has been given in response. I hope the communications difficulties in this regard have been resolved now that the Minister's job is on the line. I would like to ask specifically about reports that a review was commissioned into the work of a pathologist who spent six weeks working at Cork University Hospital in July and August of this year. According to an extract from the review, which was published in today's Irish Independent, the pathologist in question was guilty of "serious diagnostic errors". The review goes on to state:

From a review of 166 cases, 15 were reported as negative or inadequate when in fact these samples contained malignancy or features suggestive of malignancy.

I want to make it clear to the Taoiseach that I am not referring to the Health and Information Quality Authority's report. I am referring to a report into the work of the pathologist in question that was commissioned by the hospital. It is separate from the authority's report. When was the report received? Does it confirm that there were 15 misdiagnoses? When were the patients whose cases were misdiagnosed informed of their misdiagnoses?

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