Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before I begin, I wish to express my admiration for Deputy Charles Flanagan. The way in which he spoke about this matter just shows how long years of involvement in a particular area can be used to one's benefit.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, is unable to take the matter as he is attending a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels.

As the Deputy will be aware, Dr. Khalid Jaber recently tendered his resignation from the post of deputy State Pathologist. His resignation has been accepted with immediate effect and he has been notified accordingly. The Minister fully appreciates that a number of issues arise at an operational level arising from the departure of Dr. Jaber. This is clearly the case because the functions undertaken by the Office of the State Pathologist are very important and can only be carried out by highly qualified and experienced medical personnel.

Following the resignation of Dr. Jaber, the primary service operated by the State Pathologist's office is being provided by the State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy, and the deputy State Pathologist, Dr. Michael Curtis. This service is supplemented, as required, by Dr. Margot Bolster, assistant State Pathologist. In the overall context, it is a matter for the State Pathologist to determine how her office operates. In that regard, the Minister understands she is in the process of putting in place the necessary operational arrangements to take account of the resignation of Dr. Jaber.

In raising this Topical Issue the Deputy referred specifically to the service provided by the Office of the State Pathologist at weekends. This service operates on an on-call basis and is designed to ensure urgent requirements can be met. With particular reference to the circumstances to which the Deputy referred, the Minister has been informed by the State Pathologist that she has arranged for Dr. Bolster to assume on-call call duties which would previously have fallen to be undertaken by Dr. Jaber.

The Minister has requested that I assure the Deputy and all Members that the question of finding a replacement for Dr. Jaber is being actively pursued by the Department. In this connection, the filling of the vacancy has been approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It will be necessary to have a high level competition to secure a suitable replacement for Dr. Jaber. This will be arranged in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service.

The Minister is also pleased that the provision of new accommodation for the State Pathologist's office at the former Whitehall Garda station is proceeding as a shared location project with the Dublin City Coroner. The current position is that the relevant architectural drawings are being finalised for the refurbishment of the building, with the necessary work to be undertaken and completed in 2014. It is the Minister's view that a professional and comprehensive pathology service will continue to be delivered by the Office of the State Pathologist and in that regard, he has full confidence in the State Pathologist, Professor Cassidy, and her staff.

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