Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 161: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive have issued an instruction to the social workers in James Hospital, Dublin 8 not to deal with queries from Deputies. [7684/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy's question relates in the first instance to the management and delivery of health and personal social services which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, HSE, under the Health Act 2004.

My Department has made inquiries of the HSE and has been advised that a directive has not issued to social workers in St. James's Hospital not to deal with inquiries from Deputies. There is a protocol in place in the hospital whereby all written representations and parliamentary questions are replied to centrally in the chief executive's office, having consulted the appropriate parties.

The Deputy will be aware that arrangements have been put in place by the HSE to facilitate the provision of information for Oireachtas Members. I wrote to Oireachtas Members on 19 January 2006 advising of these arrangements and providing the contact details for that purpose.