Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I support the proposal by Senators Brian Hayes and McCarthy. MRSA is a major threat. We dealt with foot and mouth disease and prevented it from spreading throughout Ireland but we cannot solve the MRSA problem. Senator McCarthy is correct in this regard. I call on the Minister to make a statement to the House on this issue. People are terrified to go into hospital because they go in with one ailment and come out worse than they went in. I have met many people who went into hospital for hip operations and came out with MRSA, which is worse than the hip problem. It is a major threat.

We are concerned about avian flu and actions are being taken in that regard but MRSA is in our midst. It is being carried into hospitals. There is no control of hygiene or of visitors. People visiting very ill patients are bringing MRSA to hospitals but nobody is taking any action. The Minister will have to make a statement to the House in this regard.

My name and shame campaign should be reactivated because of Niamh——