Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wonder if there is any truth in the rumour that the Irish Daily Mail will soon be distributing a free DVD of "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" to all readers. I regret very much that there was no late equaliser in yesterday's budget for single income families which still have to put up with the glaring injustice of having to pay up to €6,000 more in tax than double income couples in the same income bracket. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, failed on radio this morning to give any just rationale for the continuation of the tax individualisation policy, which was criticised by them in the past and by the Tánaiste, Deputy Burton, who contributed to an Iona Institute paper on the subject. It is very regrettable that we have seen no change to that policy.
I raise the issue of our preparedness to deal with any possible Ebola outbreak. The Minister for Health and the chief medical officer will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children tomorrow. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Health to come to this House to debate this specific issue next week and not deal with any other issue? I am concerned there may be serious deficiencies in HSE guidance and protocols supplied to hospital staff to deal with patients with possible Ebola symptoms. I find it very hard to understand how one of the Government's first responses to questions was to warn the health unions not to exploit the issue and to make points about resources and industrial relations issues. It is the Government's responsibility to reassure the public that all necessary steps are being taken and that all staff are fully trained and equipped. Its failure to communicate beyond making general claims of readiness is irresponsible and worrying because it suggests it may not know the full picture in the hospitals.
I have been in touch with hospital-based professionals who have told me that no training has been provided to accident and emergency or front-line staff in one large Dublin hospital and that no dry runs have been implemented to date. I have been informed that information given to staff so far relates to the assessment and diagnostic process as well as protocols for the ambulance service, but there has been no information as to how to apply and remove personal protective equipment, for example, or supervision or observation of the removal of such equipment. Is all that true? Does it matter? Does the Minister know about that?
It has been reported to me that a patient with suspicious symptoms presented to a Dublin hospital at the weekend and although Ebola was eventually ruled out, it was not before considerable confusion and debate about protocols and a plan of action as the staff treated the patient. There was an original idea to bring the patient to the acute medical assessment unit but an on-the-hoof decision was made to move the person to an isolation room in the intensive care unit. The key point is that the support staff involved had no training on or education about their role and protection despite the fact they would need to be involved in non-clinical elements of the patient care process.
The Minister for Health should come to the House to tell us why screening at airports is right for Britain but wrong for Ireland. He should tell us if there have been drills and dry runs in each hospital and what personal protective equipment is being made available to staff and hospitals and whether it is of equal standard in all cases. I have a list of other concerns and questions which responsible professionals have raised and I would appreciate if the Government would give us an account of its stewardship. This House is the place to do that. I look forward to hearing what the Minister and the chief medical officer have to say to the Joint Committee on Health and Children tomorrow, but in any event the Minister should come to the House next week on this pressing issue of public concern. I will push the matter to a vote if necessary.