Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising an issue about which he clearly, and understandably, feels passionate. Without wishing to make Opposition parties in this House feel uncomfortable, I do not doubt that all parties raise this issue on a regular basis. I do not doubt the bona fides of anybody on any side of this House in respect of wanting to see progress in healthcare and in respect of UHL. That should be the starting point for any civil debate or discussion we have.

I agree with the Deputy on the broader point about the fact that doctors and nurses in this country are regulated. Many other allied healthcare professionals are regulated through CORU. They all have various accountability structures if something goes wrong. I do not think in any scenario that the role of management should be discounted. I agree on that much. I am talking more broadly than about any specific case. I share the view that there are many parts to the health service. There is clinical care. There is also the responsibility of Government around capacity, resources and policy.

I get that. However, there is also a responsibility on those who are paid a very decent wage on a day-to-day basis to do their job too. Any fair look at any situation in the health service has to look at all the aspects.

What I certainly have no doubt about with regard to UHL is that alongside the very harrowing and disturbing evidence that was heard at Aoife Johnston's inquest, we will now see the Frank Clarke report, which I believe is due in the next few weeks. The hope of Government is that it is due this month. The fact that the former most senior judge, a former Chief Justice, is carrying out that report I hope gives the Deputy an indication of how seriously we take this issue. The Deputy has heard colleagues talk about and question me on this today, and there is an issue around bed capacity in the mid-west. That is accepted. We need to continue to grow it. We all need to look at innovative ways to do that quickly, and we are. There is a need to continue to grow the workforce in UHL and contrary to some charges in this House, that is happening and will continue to happen. However, there is also a need to look at pathways within the mid-west and how we use all the various parts of capacity to help serve the people of the mid-west. Alongside all those extra resources, beds and staff and improved pathways, there is also the need to know the place is being well run and safely run. It would be foolish of any of us to prejudge the Frank Clarke report. I have no knowledge of what is in it. I can certainly tell the Deputy that we are going to take it very seriously, however, because you do not send in a retired Chief Justice to do a job and then not take any recommendations that flow from that very seriously.

See this speech in context