Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

There was a well-publicised case of a young woman who died. I am not sure what the outcome of the investigation was in that case. A doctor attended a hotel in Ireland from which he recruited patients for cosmetic surgery. There are many people going abroad for dental work and other treatments. We cannot control the output flow of patients. Sometimes the Irish health system has to pick up the pieces if the person has not gone to an appropriately qualified practitioner.

We are obliged to implement EU directives but the issue of specialists is for the Medical Council after the regulations are made. The main issue is there has to be a licensing and accreditation regime for hospitals. That hospitals will have to reach certain standards will bring greater confidence, assurance and information to patients.