Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the final Madden report regarding organ retention will be published; if she intends to publish the final Madden report, if so, when she intends publishing the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36128/05]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the recommendations issued by the faculty of pathology of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland for the guidance of pathologists and other health care professionals in the area of post mortem consent and the retention and disposition of organ and tissue samples have been implemented in all hospitals around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36129/05]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding that was provided for Parents for Justice in the 2006 Estimates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36132/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 113 and 116 together.

Government approved the appointment of Dr. Deirdre Madden, a distinguished expert on medical law and ethics, on 3 May 2005 to provide me with a report on post mortem policy and practice by 21 December 2005. I understand Dr. Madden will meet her deadline and I intend that, subject to legal advice, her report will be made public.

In late 1999, my Department wrote to all health boards and hospitals requesting that they ensure a policy of informed consent should operate regarding the retention of organs following post mortem examination, pending the issue of guidelines by the faculty of pathology. These guidelines for post mortem consent and retention of tissues at post mortem examination were issued by the faculty in February, 2000. The Health Service Executive has confirmed that guidelines and protocols are in place for families in the case of both coroners' and non-coroners' post mortems. In accordance with these guidelines, families are to be informed when retention takes place in a coroner's post mortem and permission is to be sought to retention in the case of a non-coroner's post mortem.

Funding for Parents for Justice, PFJ, is now a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the HSE is in talks with PFJ regarding future funding. I am aware, however, that Parents for Justice received approximately €1.3 million in funding since 2000, which includes funding of €330,000 for 2005.