Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

In response to Deputy Burton, as I understand it, Dr. Naughton decided to undertake this review but he informed the HSE locally. It was aware at regional level and I am not trying to say it was not. I was not aware. My Department was not aware, despite being in contact with the HSE on ten different occasions about this matter. Neither the head of the HSE nor the head of the hospitals office was aware of it. I was as shocked as anybody else at the committee meeting last Thursday morning when the details of this matter were revealed. I was quite surprised that almost two hours had elapsed before it was raised. That is the fact. That is being honest.

I went from that committee meeting to a meeting I had convened of 20 senior breast specialists with Professors Keane and Drumm. I had organised this meeting several weeks ago because Professor Keane was coming to Ireland and I thought it would be a good idea to enter into dialogue with key clinicians about the implementation of our new strategy. At every chance I got at that meeting, I sought to put in place a solution to what had emerged at the committee meeting. I asked the HSE to telephone people, to visit people. I spoke to Mr. Hill, who said he would go on Saturday to see the people. I was working on all of that last Thursday afternoon and that is a fact.

When I was coming home from that meeting later that night I had the privilege of listening to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan on "Newstalk" — I have a recording of the programme here. She said the Minister should not resign, that would be completely the wrong focus, and that we have to focus on the women concerned. I do not know what happened between 11 p.m. on Thursday night, when I heard the Deputy, and next morning.

See this speech in context