Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 May 1996

Vol. 464 No. 7

Written Answers. - Consultant's Suspension.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Ceist:

4 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to order an inquiry following the suspension of a consultant from the Royal College of Surgeons and the request for an investigation by Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8901/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, (Limerick East): As the Deputy may be aware the consultant concerned holds a joint appointment between the Royal College of Surgeons and Beaumont Hospital.

I have been informed that the Royal College has suspended the consultant from his appointment at the college pending the holding of an inquiry. The decision to take this course of action was one solely for the college.

However, my Department is considering legal advice, which has recently been furnished by the Office of the Attorney General, in relation to the establishment of a disciplinary committee of inquiry pursuant to Clause 4 (i) of Appendix 3 of the consultants' common contract into the conduct of the consultant, in so far as his appointment at Beaumont Hospital is concerned. This follows on from the request of the appropriate person appointed by the board of Beaumont Hospital under the terms of Appendix 3 to establish such an inquiry.

As inquiries under Appendix 3 of the consultants' common contract may require me, as Minister for Health, to take certain decisions and to act judicially in arriving at such decisions, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment on this matter.