Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of a group (details supplied) regarding the limitation of visiting hours in some of the State's accident and emergency departments, including the risks to patients of being left alone while overstretched staff are attempting to cope with the numbers of patients; if she will examine the nurse patient ratio in accident and emergencies departments for the safety of the patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8425/07]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to regulate visiting times in accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8786/07]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will have the nurse patient ratio checked and addressed in relation to accident and emergency departments in the interests of patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8787/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 315 and 316 together.

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 address the particular issues raised by the Deputies. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputies.