Mary Henry (Independent)

Two or three years ago I raised a matter on the Adjournment about the situation between the Minister for Health and Children, the medical indemnity bodies and the hospital consultants. I said that the way the negotiations were going between those bodies would mean the taxpayers would have to pay the bill. The taxpayers will pay the bill and the only problem is how much it will be. I have been a member of the Medical Defence Union since I qualified. Around that time it was found that a covert deal had been done between the Medical Protection Society and the Department, which caused trouble. The Medical Protection Society has admitted it was a mistake not to bring the deal out in the open. However, I have not heard the Minister for Health and Children say that. Hospital consultants have little idea what they are covered for at present. They are not covered for good Samaritan work outside their hospitals. This is a serious situation because they are now going on limited industrial action and this will escalate. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health and Children to come into the House to tell us how he proposes to deal with this serious medical situation?