Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I have been in touch with the hospital and the clinical nurse manager did the work the Deputy suggested was done by the family. She confirmed that. She also confirmed that she spoke to the patient on foot of the question tabled by Deputy Shatter, which was unusual - I would have thought it more appropriate that the question would have been raised and dealt with privately in the hospital - and that he had no complaint in regard to the matters the Deputy mentioned.

I accept the patient was in a room with other patients and, in an ideal situation, that should not be the case. That is why we are moving as quickly as we can to provide the additional facilities at St. Vincent's hospital. Notwithstanding the tight budgetary situation, we have found an innovative way for the facility to proceed with the Exchequer paying at the end of the project construction period rather than on a phased basis, which means it will be paid for at the start of 2011.

We have done an enormous amount over the past number of years for cystic fibrosis patients. When it met me recently, their association recognised that. However, I accept we still have quite a way to go to reach a situation where every patient will be directly admitted to a single room and, therefore, minimise the capacity for cross-infection.

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