Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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168. To ask the Minister for Health the origins and genesis of the radiological study published by his Department in November 2016 in the Harding Clark report on the symphysiotomy payment scheme​; and if this study was authorised and-or commissioned by his Department or his office. [44507/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Health if the radiological study published by his Department in November 2016 in the Harding Clark report on the symphysiotomy payment scheme was paid for by his Department; if so, the amount; if the study's principal author (details supplied) received payment from his Department for this purpose; if so, the amount; if the other ten doctors listed as co-authors of the study received payment for their work; and if so, the amount received by each. [44508/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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170. To ask the Minister for Health ​the terms of reference of the radiological study published by his Department in November 2016 in the Harding Clark report on the ​symphysiotomy ​payment ​ scheme​; the process by which those terms of reference were drawn up; and the names of the persons involved in the process. [44509/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health the patient demographics used ​​to access the images of applicants to the symphysiotomy ​payment ​scheme ​from the national imaging archive further to the radiological study published by his Department in November 2016 in the Harding Clark report on the ​scheme; ​if the X-rays of all applicants to the scheme, including those whose applications failed, were accessed for the purposes of this research; if the data used to download these images included the applicants' names or other identifiers; and if so, the identifiers. [44510/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 171, inclusive, together.

The Surgical Symphysiotomy Ex-gratia Payment Scheme, which was approved by Government, concluded with the publication of the Report of its independent Assessor, Judge Maureen Harding Clark, on 22 November 2016. Judge Clark's Report, included, as an appendix, a review undertaken by Professor Leo Lawler, Director of Radiology Services, consultant radiologist Mater Hospital and visiting Consultant to the Rotunda Hospital entitled "Symphysiotomy & Pubiotomy Review - a Imaging Perspectivs".

In order to undertake her role under her Terms of Reference in an informed manner, Judge Clark drew on the professional expertise of certain medical specialists in the areas of obstetrics, radiology, orthopaedic surgery and pelvic injury, urology and urogynaecology, who advised the Scheme throughout the process. Professor Lawler advised on radiology and Judge Clark notes in her report that he "attended for weekly meetings to advise and discuss". She noted that radiology could confirm that surgical intervention had occurred and it also provided evidence to permit a finding of significant disability.

While my Department arranged for payments to be made to the medical experts, it was done on the instruction of Judge Clark. As the office of the Judge was independent, my Department had no role in determining the terms of reference for any work undertaken by the experts or making any decisions regarding medical expertise or research that Judge Clark deemed necessary to undertake her role under the Terms of Reference for the Scheme. Invoice records show that Prof Lawler's services to Judge Clark included reviews of radiographs, CT scans or MRIs, case discussions, literature reviews, correspondence with hospitals and solicitors and preparation of a review of the Scheme. Documents released under FOI show that the cost of the review was in the region of €6,600. Professor Lawler names 11 doctors who were specialist registrars or radiology fellows who assisted him in his work, but no payments were made by my Department to these individuals.

I have no additional information other than what is provided by Professor Lawler in his Report regarding the demographics used, or the x-rays or imaging which were accessed for the purpose of his work. Judge Clark, however, was happy that the information merited inclusion in her independent report to me on the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme.