Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1266. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 674 of 11 June 2019, if a copy of the response issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32417/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1267. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the reason it took from September 2014 to 11 June 2019 to raise with the board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, the matter of inappropriate expenditure of midwives and nurses fees on legal expenses for a person (details supplied) named in a protected disclosure; if he is satisfied that the matter is now resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32418/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1266 and 1267 together.
Parliamentary Question No 674 of 11 June 2019 raised a query about a contribution made by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) towards the legal costs of a person. On foot of that question, my Department requested the NMBI to provide details to the Deputy who raised the question. In its response, the NMBI stated that "the protected disclosure process took place over a period of almost two years. Persons who are subject to protected disclosures are entitled to due process. NMBI did pay towards the legal costs of a person whose actions were the subject of a protected disclosure".
As I have stated previously, a protected disclosure was submitted to my Department in September 2014. That matter was subject to external review and, on foot of that review, two reports were commissioned. In view of the reports commissioned, the findings of same, and the steps taken by the NMBI to implement the recommendations of the reports, I am satisfied that significant action has been taken on foot of the complaints made. These complaints were an important input to the enhancement of governance in the NMBI.
