Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Is the Minister aware that the young man who is the subject of this question and who is 23 years of old and suffering from cystic fibrosis was admitted to a ward with five chronically ill elderly patients? Will she acknowledge that, because of the risk of cross-infection, it is an entirely inappropriate way in which to treat any cystic fibrosis patient who comes into hospital? Will she acknowledge it is unsatisfactory that this young man's family, who have already lost one son to cystic fibrosis, felt the need to sanitise the floor area around his bed and scrub down the bed frame because they found signs of blood on it? Will she acknowledge that is completely inappropriate and scandalous treatment of any cystic fibrosis patient?

Will the Minister acknowledge that it should not be necessary for a question of this nature to be raised by a patient? This question was tabled on Thursday of last week and the patient was moved into an isolation room on Friday. I do not believe that was a coincidence.

Will the Minister explain why she made an absolute commitment in this House in January 2008 that 14 new isolation rooms for cystic fibrosis patients would be established in St. Vincent's hospital by September 2008 but that, to date, only eight such rooms have been established?

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