I 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.