Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Last week, Deputy Whitmore asked if either the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health had spoken to the two members of the HSE board who did not sign off on the national maternity hospital deal - law professor Deirdre Madden and patient advocate Dr. Sarah McLoughlin. The Taoiseach bristled at the very suggestion that it was "a new departure to even consider hearing from individual board members who happen to take a particular stance on a particular issue". Imagine my surprise when I opened the Irish Examiner today and saw a lengthy column from HSE board member Fergus Finlay explaining why he supported the deal. The Taoiseach referenced the article earlier. Can the Taoiseach clarify whether it is his view that it is only those HSE board members who agree with the deal who should speak publicly about it? If that is not his view, can he confirm that he has no problem with either Professor Madden or Dr. McLoughlin attending the Joint Committee on Health this week to outline her concerns about this deal?

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