Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

A protocol was put in place in early 2008 that was to be followed in cases like this in order to allow them to be managed between HIQA and the hospital considered. This case was being managed accordingly. I am not going to put words in the mouth of HIQA but, broadly speaking, it was satisfied that the process was conforming to that protocol and was following the procedures as indicated. It is too early to say whether resources were a causative factor in this process; I cannot say whether that is the case, whether it was a question of management systems or a combination of both. It is difficult to say. I do not know about any additional consultants being appointed to Tallaght hospital, but I am sure we can elicit that information at a later time.

Deputy Rabbitte asked why this matter was raised only in passing with the Minister, Deputy Harney. Professor Conlon had only just been appointed chief executive officer at the time of the meeting in question and this issue was not on the agenda. He raised it separately with the Minister, among several issues he wished to bring to her attention which he considered would require his serious attention in the coming weeks. The Deputy asked why the backlog was not cleared by March 2010 as had been initially represented to HIQA. I do not have that information to hand, but I reiterate that the clinical director of the HSE has undertaken today to liaise with the hospital in order to finalise these reviews without delay.

I was already asked about the public-private mix of patients, and I have no information in that regard. I will treat the references to St. Patrick's Day as questions of a rhetorical nature.

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