Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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650. To ask the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that there is a conflict of interest in the Health Service Executive drawing up the terms of reference into the independent report of all levels of its management following the publication of the Health Information and Quality Authority report into maternity services in Portlaoise hospital, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21333/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The recent HIQA Report into Portlaoise Hospital raises serious questions and issues relating to the appropriateness and effectiveness of managerial actions.

These issues will be addressed through HSE internal disciplinary procedures. The investigation being undertaken will be conducted by an independent expert from overseas and will be done in accordance with the HSE's own disciplinary policy. This will allow disciplinary action to be taken and its outcomes will be binding. I did look explicitly at the possibility of an external review, separate to the HSE process, and I have not ruled out this possibility, but any findings arising from such a review would be ultra vires, would not be binding and could not be enforced. For the time being I believe that it is better to operate within the HSE's own disciplinary structures.