Organ Retention.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2004

Wednesday, 6 October 2004

Questions (143)

Billy Timmins

Question:

261 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the establishment of a statutory inquiry as a matter or urgency which will investigate the distressing and sensitive issues relating to organ retention in hospitals without parents consent; the reason the non-statutory Dunne inquiry missed five deadlines for producing a report; the reason the inquiry has been allowed to continue in session for over four years without producing a report; the way in which she can justify the estimated €16 million which has been spent on an inquiry which has furnished no report or findings to date; the way in which she can justify the private nature of this inquiry in view of the fact that the issues under investigation are matters of public interest; if she ascertained the extent of hospital and health board co-operation with the Dunne inquiry; the plans the 29 hospitals which have admitted to selling pituitary glands to companies (details supplied) have put in place to contact the next of kin of the 7,500 deceased persons from whom these glands were obtained without knowledge or consent; and if she will establish a statutory Inquiry as a matter of urgency into these distressing matters. [23759/04]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The terms of reference of the post mortem inquiry are very broad and require it to review all post mortem policy, practice and procedure in the State since 1970, with particular reference to organ removal, retention, storage and disposal. The inquiry is also mandated to examine any arrangements with pharmaceutical companies in relation to retained organs. The inquiry team has been examining thousands of documents and witness statements from a range of persons, including the pharmaceutical industry. The chairman had informed my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Martin, that the inquiry has received considerable co-operation from each of the hospitals with which it is presently dealing and that the inquiry's non-statutory nature has not thus far significantly hampered its substantive work.

The chairman has indicated that she will provide a report on paediatric hospitals in December 2004. At a meeting between the then Minister and the chairman on 8 September 2004 it was agreed that both parties would examine the methodology of the inquiry with the objective of the chairman producing as comprehensive a report as possible on outstanding issues by 31 March next.