As I previously stated to the Deputy, the Mater Hospital authorities have advised me that they do not currently have the necessary facilities to carry out post mortems on deceased persons with the AIDS virus. They have further stated that this service is not required very often but on those occasions when it is required, the hospital has been able to avail of the service at other local hospitals and the city morgue. The Deputy will also be aware that the upgrading of the hospital's mortuary facilities is included in its major development project.
I understand that in this particular case, when the pathologist in the Mater Hospital notified the city coroner of his patient's death, the coroner decided that it was necessary to carry out a post mortem. In the circumstances, the post mortem had to be carried out at the city morgue.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sympathy to the relatives and friends of the deceased and to emphasise that I will do everything possible to ensure that the Mater's facilities are improved as early as possible.