Results 7,761-7,780 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The policy approach in respect of the surgical services for the Cavan-Monaghan hospital group was set out in 2004 in a report of the steering group established by the former North Eastern Health Board. That group was representative of all the stakeholders and included consultant representation from both hospital sites in surgery, medicine and radiology. The recommendations of the report were...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin, it is not a question of an embargo. Protocols were set down following an examination of these matters last year, when a professional steering group that was not composed of politicians or people wishing to make political points, looked at these issues. When the group examined the surgical, medical and radiological facilities in the hospitals, it came to an...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have already answered the point as to what the group told me the other day.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am answering Deputy Ó Caoláin. As Deputy Ó Caoláin is aware, I have met the group — the people at the coalface, the medics, the GPs and the consultants — twice. I am sorry that Deputy Ó Caoláin feels that the local public representatives might have known more than the consultants and other staff. I agreed to meet the group which I thought would best know how the hospital should be...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Notwithstanding that, I also spoke to a number of public representatives from both Government and Opposition parties last Friday. The reality is that Deputy Ó Caoláin has decided——

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: ——the outcome of the investigation by an eminent surgeon. I would prefer to see what happens. I would prefer to hear——

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I would prefer to hear why Mr. Patrick Walsh left the hospital in Drogheda, where his charts and records were located and returned home.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Someone transferred him.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: He was discharged——

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: He was discharged to another hospital. I would rather wait to ascertain why that was so because he had been in Drogheda for some considerable time. I also want to wait to find out why, if it was a question of an ICU bed, one in Cavan was not used or why he did not return to where he had been the previous day. However, I will wait for the report. I will not make a political point about it but...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If it is based on resources, what the medics told——

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin knows the group I met a few nights ago and I believe he would respect and accept its views. The group told me that in its view, given the facilities available and the arrangements and consultants in place, the service could be run with just two extra nurses.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The group itself stated that it is not a question of resources, it is an issue of patient safety. An independent group of people who know far more than either the Deputy or myself, namely, the medical and surgical staff, with the Royal College of Surgeons, decided they did not believe, in the circumstances, that it was safe. I know that is disputed. The Deputy would rightly say to me that I...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: If it was a question of only two nurses the resolution would be easy. However, an examination of the region led to these conclusions. Deputy Rabbitte is correct. I find it difficult to know what the groups I listen to are at, but I will wait for the report. If it is as simple a matter as the people in Monaghan tell me, I cannot understand why the Royal College of Surgeons made its decision. I...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Since September, I have met people including medics and not just the people involved in the alliance. I have also met the surgical consultants in Monaghan General Hospital, who gave me their views. I have seen the letter signed by the counties Cavan and Monaghan consultants. The Tánaiste and I have discussed the issue but the decisions on these matters will be made by the Health Service...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is not a matter of the Royal College of Surgeons dictating anything. The college is the professional body that reflects advice. Its recommendations to the steering group were given in the interests of patients' safety.

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy knows this is the system that works. We will wait on this matter. The Deputy knows that €4.4 million has been spent in upgrading parts of the hospital. Some of the facilities are available and ready to open, which I hope happens. Other developments are taking place in some of the wards concerned. However, they are separate issues that are being dealt with by the HSE and I hope...

Departmental Bodies. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The total projected cost of the communications unit to date in 2005 is €239,951. The sum of €96,938 is a direct cost to my Department, with on average €32,475 being borne by the five other Departments with staff seconded to the unit. The total projected cost of the unit for 2005 is €319,934, with €129,250 being a direct...

Departmental Bodies. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am always happy to show Deputies the good services provided by my Department. If other Departments are using transcripts for programmes available from the communications unit, they should not be. I am not certain that none of them is but there is no reason they should, although the unit does not cover local programmes. Of the staff in the unit, 90% are from other Departments so they know...

Departmental Bodies. (18 Oct 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy knows the unit deals with issues of the day that are in the public domain. It cannot do any more than that. It is not a political unit and cannot forewarn or advise Ministers or their officials in advance.