Seanad report:There were serious questions as to the co-operation provided by the Taoiseach to the Mahon tribunal, Eugene Regan, Fine Gael spokesman on justice said.
Fine Gael was concerned about the cost of tribunals, but there were individuals who did not co-operate with them, and who were less than forthcoming with the information required for the completion of their work. This contributed to the growing cost.
Mr Regan said that when he sought an assurance last week that the re-introduction of the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill would not be used to shut down the Mahon tribunal prematurely, he was subjected to unfavourable personal remarks in the House and outside by the Taoiseach "which I think were entirely unwarranted".
As an elected representative he was entitled to raise issues of fundamental importance, and he believed that corruption in Irish politics was a fundamental national concern. He was again seeking an assurance that the proposed legislation would not be used to close down the tribunal before it had completed its investigations into the Taoiseach's finances. The Minister for Justice had given a somewhat qualified response when asked about the matter in the Dáil.
Seanad leader Donie Cassidy told the House in no circumstances would the Mahon tribunal be interfered with in any shape or form. "I don't think any public representative in the Dáil or the Seanad, any fair-minded person, could allow this to happen. I know it was never envisaged that this would be the case."
* * *
All mammograms relating to the possible misdiagnosis of women who had had breast cancer checks in Portlaoise hospital had been reviewed by Dr Ann O'Doherty at St Vincent's hospital in Dublin and the final patient would be met today, Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney said. "So, I think tomorrow afternoon we should be aware of all the readings of the mammograms when the last patient is met," Ms Harney told Geraldine Feeney (FF) during a debate on cancer services and implementation of the HSE national cancer control programme.
The Minister said the implementation of the strategy was a major priority for her and the Government. It was one of the reasons why they had set up the HSE to replace the health boards so that national-level decisions could be made and implemented to deliver the best possible health outcomes nationally for all. Prof Keane, who would lead the strategy, had her full support and that of the Government. He was expected to quickly designate clinical national leaders for radiation, surgical and medical oncology. Ms Harney said she expected the professor to make a significant priority of symptomatic breast disease services.
Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, said there seemed to be a policy of confrontation by the department and the HSE, which must be replaced by a culture of consultation and the concept of working with all partners in the sector. What the Minister had said in her Irish Times article was not the experience on the ground on a range of issues.