Family members of patients who die from MRSA infection should be given full information and coroners should not wait for new legislation before giving full reports, the Dáil was told.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Coroners' Bill was being prepared but "I understand there is no difficulty preventing coroners giving the full reports but I will raise that issue because the families should be given the full facts and details".
However when the Taoiseach said the Minister for Health "has tackled the issue of resources head-on", Independent TD for Clare James Breen intervened and shouted "she has not".
"I am a victim of the MRSA bug and the Government has done nothing."
Banging his hand on the bench, Mr Breen accused the Taoiseach of waffling. "I am a victim of the MRSA superbug and I nearly lost my life as a result, and the Taoiseach stands up and waffles."
Mr Breen intervened as the Taoiseach was responding to Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who asked Mr Ahern to encourage coroners to follow the example of the Dublin city coroner who requested that information be given before a death certificate was issued.
Mr Ó Caoláin referred to a woman who "presented at one of our hospitals for the removal of a kidney stone, contracted bedsores and MRSA in her ankles . . . and left with both her legs amputated".
In another case, a Co Donegal woman was in hospital several weeks longer than she should have been.
"The reason is suspected MRSA, but again the hospital authorities are not being open with the family and they have not acknowledged what is the reason for her long, protracted and current serious state of health."
