Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister direct me to the regulation because I have not seen it? That is my own fault, I suppose, if the regulation is there. If he has it to hand, he might just quote the regulation and indicate when it was introduced and effected? Who has the Minister been advised by that the regulation will stand and not be changed? Who is making that advice? All the time we have endorsed NPHET and HIQA and, by and large, we go by their reports. Why are we ignoring the advice on this occasion? What evidence is there that has led the EU to indicate a six-month period? Could the Minister point me to the scientific evidence on this?

I have tabled a question so I expected an answer, if not from the Minister, then at least through him from the Department, which has all the expertise at its fingertips. Now we will ignore NPHET and HIQA when it suits us. We will talk about a regulation I do not know about. There is no scientific evidence whatever in the reply. This goes to the basis and the heart of trust so that when I go into the community I can advocate such trust in the system.

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