Michael McCarthy (Labour)

BreastCheck wrote to a lady in the Cork region last week to arrange an appointment for a mammogram. Sadly for the family concerned, that lady has been dead for 20 years. This was brought to the attention of BreastCheck which said it was using records from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. However, that same Department has been paying a widower's contributory pension to the deceased lady's husband for the past 20 years, so it calls into question the manner in which BreastCheck is using information made available to it by the Department. It also calls into question the sections within the Department which are releasing information to BreastCheck stating that a deceased person is living in the Cork region but which are giving the husband of the deceased person a widower's pension at the same time.

This has caused undue hardship and distress to the family. One could understand this happening within a three to five year period but this is 20 years later. BreastCheck has issued an apology which has been accepted in the spirit in which it was extended. However, there has been no word from the Department of Health and Children. It so happens that the husband of the deceased woman is a former Deputy. He contacted the Department of Health and Children and spoke directly to the Minister's adviser but there has still been no word from the Minister on this issue. I am not saying the Minister is not compassionate and that it is deliberate, but it is a disgrace and shameful that any family should have to go through that hardship, distress and trauma. We need to ensure this does not happen again.

I wonder if something similar has happened to other families who would not have the wherewithal to raise this issue in political channels as has this former Deputy. Will the Leader ensure this does not happen again and that there is some political accountability because we have all become immune to apologies from the Department of Health and Children in regard to cock-ups in terms of diagnoses and services? This cannot be allowed to continue.