Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

The immediate priority is the clinical follow-up and care of patients who have undergone this surgery. This represents a very fundamental and serious breach of trust. As I have said, there will have to be further investigations as to why this occurred and how it was allowed to occur. I have said the retrospective look back will have to be externally done, involving multidisciplinary teams to make sure that independence and that confidence is in the process from day one. I make the point, of course, that 98% of the procedures and surgeries within in Crumlin were clinically indicated. I acknowledge there are many very good high-quality people working in CHI generally. There are very basic issues of clinical governance, clinical leadership and clinical performance. There are issues with overall governance of the hospital that are clearly raised and emerge from this situation.

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