Minister for Health Mary Harney said she had not yet seen the preliminary report of an independent inquiry into the death of Pat Joe Walsh. Referring to coverage of the report in The Irish Times yesterday, she said leaking the report had upset Mr Walsh's family.
Mr Walsh (75), from Killanny, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, bled to death at Monaghan General Hospital last October.
Replying to Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, Ms Harney said it had been hoped to have the report within eight weeks.
"However, in the first instance, we had to go outside the jurisdiction to find people to carry out the inquiry. They have now completed their work and the draft conclusions have been sent to those in respect of whom the findings were adverse for a response.
"I very much regret that parts of the report appear to have been leaked today, since it has never been submitted to the Department of Health, and I have not seen it.
"It appears to have been leaked to a journalist in a prominent newspaper this morning, and I know it has caused great upset to the family of the deceased to whom we spoke last night. They have been kept fully informed at each stage of writing the report. We certainly hope the legal process can be concluded quickly."
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said The Irish Times front page had carried the headline "Patient death inquiry finds hospital practice at fault". He asked if there would be a drip feed of the information contained in the report.
"Will the report be brought before the Cabinet? What is the situation regarding the family of Mr Walsh? It is unacceptable that his family is completely at a remove from all deliberations on this matter. It is not enough for the Tánaiste to say this morning that she regrets it." He added that, most worryingly of all, the report extract sought to scapegoat rather than assign responsibility where it properly belonged, namely, the policy the Minister and her Government had pursued with the health services.
Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon said they could not debate the newspaper report.
Ms Harney repeated she had not seen the report but understood the Health Service Executive (HSE) wished to publish it quickly.
"I, along with the executive and my department, have been in contact with the family of Mr Walsh in respect of this matter in recent months, including last night." Asked by Mr Ó Caoláin if she would address the leaking of extracts from the report, Ms Harney replied: "I wish I could, because such leaks do not help Mr Walsh's family."
