Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2005
160 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the terms upon which a person (details supplied) has been engaged by her Department to chair a non-statutory inquiry, including details of remuneration or fees agreed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8238/05]
View answer161 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the level of remuneration or fees paid by her Department to a person (details supplied) in respect of her work on the non-statutory inquiry into organ retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8239/05]
View answer162 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the nature and substance of any correspondence between the chairperson (details supplied) of the non-statutory inquiry into organ retention and her Department regarding the terms of the chairperson’s engagement or contract, including any requests made for an increase in fees or remuneration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8240/05]
View answer163 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to retain the services of a person (details supplied) after 31 March 2005; if so, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8241/05]
View answer164 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the failure of any hospital to provide full co-operation to the Dunne inquiry; the steps she has taken to procure the co-operation of any such hospital; the further steps she proposes to take in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8242/05]
View answer165 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the cost of the Dunne inquiry; if no figure is available, her estimate of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8243/05]
View answer166 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself with the progress being made and the pace of work of the Dunne inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8244/05]
View answer167 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans for the establishment of a full statutory inquiry into illegal organ retention by hospitals in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8245/05]
View answer168 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the moneys which have been allocated to hospitals, health boards and all other participants in the Dunne inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8246/05]
View answer169 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is aware that adrenal and pancreatic glands of children were routinely and illegally sold by hospitals in the State to two leading pharmaceutical companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8247/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 169, inclusive, together.
Following a Government decision in April 2000, the post mortem inquiry was established to investigate post mortem practice and procedure in all hospitals in the State since 1970. The terms of reference include the issue of the retention by hospitals of pituitary glands. Neither I nor my Department has been advised that any hospital has failed to co-operate with the inquiry.
The Government decided in September last that the inquiry would cease to exist on 31 March next. I expect to have a report on paediatric hospitals on or before that date. The content of the report will inform decisions on how to proceed beyond that date.
To the end of December 2004, the total cost of the inquiry was approximately €20 million. Total legal and administrative costs were approximately €11 million, of which fees paid to the chairman amounted to €2.29 million. The remainder of the costs include establishment, set-up and office rental costs of €2.29 million, grants to the former Eastern Regional Health Authority of slightly more than €5 million, grants to the Parents for Justice, PFJ, organisation of €977,210 and legal fees to Kelly Noone, solicitors to PFJ, of €800,942.
The terms and conditions of the appointment remuneration of the chairman were subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance. The remuneration approved for the chairman on her appointment to the inquiry in 2000 was a brief fee of £30,000 or €38,092, with a daily rate of £1,500 or €1,905. The chairman requested an increase in her remuneration in 2001 and in 2003, but this was not conceded in either case.
