Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It casts a serious slur on the officials of the Department to allege they are not applying the law. I can absolutely assure the Deputy that both the appeals office and the officials in my Department do this on an objective basis. No instruction is given and it would not be legal to give one, other than that this is done in accordance with the law. The Deputy keeps repeating this allegation and it is untrue. I have told him that it is totally untrue.

I suggested that Deputy Ring invite the chief medical officer to a committee and he will explain in detail exactly how this operates. What the Deputy said was unfair and the officials are not here to defend themselves. They are not doing what the Deputy stated. It is not the first time this has been said. This allegation has been made time and again. I have offered to explain this and Dr. Leach has offered to come into the committee and explain objectively how they do this. The Deputy's remark against the officials should be withdrawn until the Deputy has a chance to come in and listen to such an explanation. I hope he would then have the good grace to withdraw the scurrilous remark he made.

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