Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise three issues. The most striking and profound of these is the very serious debacle that has emerged with regard to patients' X-rays in Tallaght hospital. What is quite shocking is that HIQA, the watchdog for our health service, has been trying to communicate with Tallaght hospital since as far back as last October. I find it extraordinary that the Minister for Health and Children is out of the country when she should be here. It reminds me of the crisis with flooding and frozen roads when the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, was away.