Mary Henry (Independent)

By seconding Senator Ross's proposal, Senator Bannon has deprived me of the pleasure of flexing my muscles and showing solidarity on the Independent benches. I support the amendment not least on account of the work done by Eileen O'Mara Walsh some years ago in putting the Great Southern Hotel Group back on track.

I seek a debate on an issue raised by Senator Ulick Burke, namely, the fact that the National Treatment Purchase Fund does not appear to have accepted an offer from the Galway Clinic. Dr. James Sheehan, the founder and main owner of the Galway Clinic, has written on this topic. The problem with the National Treatment Purchase Fund is that it does not disclose what it is paying for various procedures, whether carried out in England, Belfast, Dublin or elsewhere. While patient convenience is extremely important, we also need to know the proposed costs in the various centres which put themselves forward as suitable candidates for providing treatment under the fund.

Public hospitals must disclose everything in their case mix. Senators will have noted that many public hospitals lost funding in recent weeks because their case mix was considered inadequate. I ask that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, come before the House to discuss the case mix in public hospitals and the financial position of the National Treatment Purchase Plan in terms of what it pays for various procedures. To date the fund has refused to show the necessary transparency.