Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to ask a brief question on this issue. I would be deeply upset and concerned were we discussing any hospital in the State; that we are discussing my local hospital, near where I live and in which I have been a patient, shocks me greatly. It is good to have an opportunity to raise these issues and to express our upset. My first priority is to stress that patients and their families who are affected by this issue must be looked after. This hospital caters not only for the area represented by Deputies Rabbitte, Brian Hayes and me; its catchment extends to counties Kildare and Wicklow, as far south as Carnew. Many people in those areas are deeply upset today. Deputy Reilly and I were members of the health board for some years and so understand the issues that are particularly relevant to that catchment area, as does Deputy Ó Fearghaíl, my colleague from Kildare, who is Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. I am pleased to see Deputy Ó Fearghaíl in the House today.

I would like to respond to the points that have been made but do not have sufficient time to do so other than to make one or two brief points. Reference was made to our local GP, Dr. Tom O'Dowd, who has done a great service to the community in regard to this matter. As I understand it, he said on national radio this morning that he first brought the issue to the attention of the board of Tallaght hospital by mail last April. He has confirmed personally to me that he received no reply to this correspondence. The chairman and other board members must answer for the governance issues that have arisen and must outline how they propose to address this matter.

There is an important issue in terms of the communication that must take place with the patients and families affected so that they can be informed of what will happen next. I hope the Minister of State can offer assurances in this regard. I would like to say more but have run out of time. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his courtesy in accommodating me.

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