Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Complaints Procedures.

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

591 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received recommendations from a group (details supplied); if he will appoint a judge to deal with these individual cases on the same grounds as applied at the Stardust tribunal; his views on whether the situation can be allowed to continue for years to come; his further views on whether action is required immediately in order to alleviate further hardship for the individuals concerned; if he will ensure that anyone affected will be statute barred due to the time involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1963/02]

Nora Owen

Ceist:

676 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on all actions taken by the hospital, the health board and him in connection with complaints made by women against a person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the concern of a number of this person's former patients that no report has been issued following the Irish Medical Organisation investigation; and if he will discuss the matter with the Irish Medical Organisation. [2619/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 676 together.

The matter raised by the Deputies is an important and sensitive one and is being handled by the North-Eastern Health Board which has statutory responsibility for the provision of services in its functional area. The chief executive officer of the board took immediate steps to deal with the situation as soon as he became aware of it and the board initiated a review which was carried out by experts nominated by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The report of the review group has been referred by the board to the Medical Council in the context of its statutory functions as set out in the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978.

I went to Drogheda in July 2000 and met with many of the women involved and heard their experiences at first hand. I had a further meeting with a group representing the women involved in October, 2000. The matter is being investigated by the Medical Council. I will await the outcome of the council's deliberations prior to deciding what further measures may be required in this case.