STATEMENT ON CAVAN HOSPITAL INQUIRY

The IHCA categorically rejects the suggestion by the Minister for Health & Children, Micheal Martin, that the Association was unwilling to submit a list of names of nominees to act on his committee.

The failure of the Minister to satisfactorily establish his committee can be found in the hamfisted way in which the Department set about the task. It failed to

· make appropriate arrangements for locum cover so that patients would not be disadvantaged

· ensure that everybody sitting on the Committee would be indemnified against any possible legal action

· provide detailed terms of reference and rules under which the committee would operate.

The IHCA submitted two lists of nominees which enabled the Minister make two furtive attempts to commence the process.

The Department was advised last Friday that the Association, notwithstanding the many difficulties posed by the Department"s handling of the matter, would be in a position to submit four further names on last Monday, 2nd inst. Clarification on the Minister"s intentions was sought in light of High Court proceedings which were taken this week by one of the surgeons under investigation. No response has been received.

It ill behoves this Minister to seek to distract attention from his own failings by blaming others.