Ivan Yates
Question:28 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the precise commitments given to Deputy Jackie Fahey in recent weeks in return for his support.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with Deputy.
Austin Deasy
Question:65 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health if there has been any progress towards the provision of a replacement geriatric hospital for St. Joseph's, Dungarvan, County Waterford since his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 15 November 1989.
Brian O'Shea
Question:74 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the undertakings given by him to Deputy Jackie Fahey; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Alan Shatter
Question:103 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the agreement reached between Deputy Jackie Fahey and the Government Chief Whip regarding health and other matters; and whether a copy of the agreement will be placed in the Oireachtas Library.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 28, 65, 74 and 103 together.
At a recent meeting with Deputy Fahey, I informed him of developments in the health services generally. I gave him a clear view of the present situation in the health services and reassured him about their capacity to cope with the recent emergency caused by the influenza epidemic. I discussed with him the specific developments in the South Eastern Health Board area, including the hospital developments at Ardkeen, Wexford and Kilkenny. I also assured him that I accepted the need to provide new accommodation for the elderly at Dungarvan and had already been in correspondence with the South Eastern Health Board on the matter during 1989.
Will the Minister confirm that he had two meetings on Friday, 19 January 1990 with Deputy Fahey, that he gave him position papers which the Deputy took home to his constituency and that on that basis he found it possible to re-join the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party? Would the Minister agree that this type of political horse trading with the health service is no way to plan the health service and weakens his own credibility in trying to rationalise and organise the service?
I met Deputy Fahey once on the day in question, as indeed I meet Deputies from both sides of the House and discuss with them what is happening nationally and in their own area. Deputy Yates is correct when he says that I gave Deputy Fahey a document to peruse. However, it was a document refuting allegations made by himself and Deputy Dukes. Very serious allegations were made and Deputy Dukes alleged that dying patients were being turned away from hospitals. Deputy Dukes knew that was wrong and he was casting a slur on the most caring staff in this country. He knew that statement was wrong——
I have the death certificate of one of the patients.
Indeed, one may ask what Deputy Yates himself, with his false propaganda, did about the diabetic unit in Beaumont Hospital?
The Minister will be hearing a lot more about it.
The consultant in charge of the diabetic unit in Beaumont gave the Deputy his answer. The Deputy was told that he had misled the people by saying that there was no place for diabetic patients who needed treatment.
He said that on television.
That is not correct.
A brief question, Deputy Yates. I am anxious to dispose of the five questions involved within the prescribed time which is a quarter of an hour.
We started five minutes late. Is the Minister for Health saying that he and Deputy Fahey are now engaged in a public relations charade in so far as there was no deal and that this was simply a farce by which he could re-enter the Fianna Fáil Party? Would the Minister agree also that these backstreet deals on an individual Deputy or constituency basis is no way to treat the health services?
Nobody, except Deputy Yates ever suggested there was a deal between Deputy Fahey and myself.
Deputy Foxe did.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister had to go on the national media.
I listened to Deputy Fahey on the radio and he did not suggest there had been a deal. That is more of the false propaganda coming from Fine Gael at present. The least they owe the people is that they respect the truth and not have elderly people around the country in fear and trembling that there is no bed in hospital.
Has the Minister not listened to the doctors, nurses and consultants or is that part of the false propaganda as well?
The consultant gave Deputy Yates his answer to the allegation that there were no beds available for diabetic patients in Beaumont and if the Deputy wishes to have his letter read into the record, I will do so.
I made one error, I should have said the Mater Hospital. In July there were 57 patients in the diabetic unit of 58 beds. I hope the Minister will get full opportunity to deal with these questions.
Next question please, No. 29.