Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

That is appalling. It is absolute incompetence on the part of the Minister and the HSE and negligence in terms of their duty of care to public patients. More than seven years ago, when the old health board was going out of existence, it prepared and sent to the Department a report, the recommendations of which the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Micheál Martin accepted. This consultant plan for the north east formally reported on serious deficits in the region and a core part of the plan was a proper full time radiology service with the appointment of full-time consultants and the filling of key positions. That never happened during the Minister's time in the Department of Health and Children.

How can the Minister restore confidence in the system throughout the country? How can she ensure that locum consultants are fully and properly qualified and have all of the knowledge they require? Following what happened at Barringtons Hospital and in the midlands, does the Minister believe she is in a shameful position having to call back 6,000 X-rays of 4,600 people? It is an appalling vista and creates appalling concerns and upset for the people involved. I acknowledge and I hope, as the Minister does, that few people will be affected. However, the Minister would not need to do this unless she was advised that serious issues must be determined by this further review.

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