Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise one specific issue. The Taoiseach replied in relation to Portlaoise. The health committee of the Cabinet met in May. The Taoiseach said it meets monthly and gave out the dates of the previous five meetings. Repeated warnings were given in relation to safety in the maternity unit at Portlaoise in particular as well as to other obstetric units. The Joint Committee on Health and Children was informed by the then Minister during a particular crisis that Portlaoise was a band 3 hospital and there was no change to its status. The director of the HSE, the inquiry and HIQA are saying that the funding was never provided to match the grade the Government gave the hospital. In other words, the Government made a statement saying Portlaoise was at a certain level. HIQA says that despite that statement to the joint committee, the money was never provided. Does the Government feel any sense of responsibility? Can the Taoiseach confirm or clarify if there was any intervention by the health committee or Ministers in terms of the statement that was made to the joint committee? Was this a political announcement and statement but the money was never provided subsequently to match the grading?

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