Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which blood testing in the public hospital system is contracted out of private laboratories; her Department's policy in this regard; if surveys of cost differentials between contracting out and carrying out work directly in public hospitals have been or will be undertaken; the safeguards which apply to ensure that the highest standard operating procedures apply; if she has had discussions with the Health Service Executive on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35468/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.