Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Twomey, O'Toole, Alex White, Ross, Jim Walsh, McFadden, Callely, Coghlan, Feeney, Buttimer, Healy-Eames, Mullen, Hanafin and Fitzgerald all expressed their strong views in regard to the HSE and the unfortunate people who attended Tallaght Hospital. There were 54,000 X-rays as mentioned by colleagues. It is an unacceptable and appalling situation that once again human failure has brought this about and whoever is responsible should be made accountable. As has been mentioned by colleagues a serious and urgent debate is also needed on the broader picture of the working of the HSE. When the HSE was set up, perhaps it was correct that politicians took a step back. As Senator Hanafin has said, and as Senator Fitzgerald pointed out very strongly in regard to accountability, public representatives do not feel the HSE is not accountable to the political process. This is a huge failing. When we want information and want to be in the decision-making process this is a complete snub on behalf of the HSE towards every individual politician no matter what political party they represent in both Houses. We have a duty to the taxpayer and to patients, who are the most important, to see whether the HSE should continue in its present form. Certainly the public representatives of the Dáil and Seanad are of the view that the HSE is a law unto itself. It makes the decisions and whether those decisions are good for constituents we are not being consulted. Given the annual cost of €15 billion or €16 billion, which is treble the allocation in 1997, we have a duty to review the entire HSE in general. I will allow an entire day's debate on this issue and, if need be, a second full day on the operation of the HSE. We heard the Minister speak on radio this morning and we all know she is out of the country on her way to New Zealand. The Minister, Deputy Mary Harney, is fully supportive of the Seanad and any time I have requested her to attend she has always been forthcoming in respect of her attendance and has given the most minute detail and information. I agree with colleagues that patients are of the utmost importance in Tallaght Hospital. It is a very good hospital which is employing 3,600 people to administer a service. Human error has caused this difficulty and it is unacceptable. I agree with colleagues on all sides of the House in this regard.