Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am not reflecting on Dr. O'Doherty, as the Taoiseach well knows. The Minister stated in the House in a reply in early November that Dr. O'Doherty's investigation would examine the mammographies and the ultrasounds. By whom or where was it decided that there should be a separate investigation by Peter Naughton into the ultrasounds? The issue I raise does not relate to Dr. O'Doherty's work, but when we raised the matter with the Taoiseach earlier this month, he told us Dr. O'Doherty's report would be ready in a week and that it would be published by the end of the month. It is now three months since the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children first became aware of the problem in Portlaoise and neither the Taoiseach nor the Minister for Health and Children appear to be in a position to give the House or the public any coherent explanation as to what exactly happened in Portlaoise. All we seem to find out is that the problem is getting worse with each passing week.

Later this evening we will address the Minister for Health and Children's accountability for all this. If the Taoiseach were to give his Deputies a free vote on this issue this evening in the House, I do not think there would be any doubt about the outcome.

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