Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is not the first time the leader of Fianna Fáil has used, in an opportunistic, a cynical and contemptible way, my efforts in good faith to assist the family of Mr. Brian Stack. I have dealt with the substance of the issue and if the Taoiseach wants to make space for me to do so, as he has indicated, I am prepared to make a statement here again. However, let me be clear that I have never accused anyone of being a suspect in the murder of Mr. Stack because I do not know who the suspects might be.

For now, during Leaders' Questions, I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the report on the future of services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, which was to be published in September 2015 but which has not been. I am advised that it is back with the Department of Health. However, yesterday HIQA released its progress report on the implementation of recommendations it had made following its investigation in 2014. That report which was published last year followed the shocking experiences of mothers who had lost babies in the hospital and been failed by the health service under the Taoiseach's watch and that of Fianna Fáil. A key finding of the report published last year was that the health service did not act in the interests of patients following the recommendations made in previous reports. There were recommendations which were not acted on last year and the review published yesterday makes exactly the same point. The recommendations have yet to be acted on. It does note that some improvements have been made, but HIQA's director of regulation has stated significant risks remain. The review states, "[The] lack of an overall strategy for the direction of the hospital ... [raises] significant concerns in terms of the sustainability of [the] current service arrangements". It also states the HSE has no plan for the future of the hospital.

While it is good and welcome that maternity services are being provided in a safer way, major issues remain. I am sure the Taoiseach will appreciate that this is of major concern to women who rely on the hospital's maternity services. Clearly, they feel less comfortable or safe in giving birth in the hospital because there has been a reduction in the number of births at the hospital. The report states there has been little change in the infrastructure of the maternity ward and that the outpatients department remains in need of refurbishment. The major issue is staffing levels and the report states the failure to recruit and retain doctors remains a risk to patient safety. The hospital also has major problems in recruiting and retaining midwives, which is a serious problem across the entire health service.

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