Oireachtas

Demand that Noonan provide answers rejected

THE Government rejected an opposition demand that the Minister for Health answer questions at the end of the debate on the hepatitis…

Fri Mar 21 1997 - 00:00

THE Government rejected an opposition demand that the Minister for Health answer questions at the end of the debate on the hepatitis C report.

The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, said that Mr Noonan and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, a former minister for health, would speak during the debate and Mr Noonan would deal comprehensively with the questions posed when he replied at its conclusion.

The Fianna Fail deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, insisted that the mechanism of a question and answer session should be provided.

Ms Mairin Quill (PD, Cork North Central) asked: "Who is the Government protecting? It is certainly not protecting the victims of the worst health scandal since the foundation of this State. .. Is it afraid that the truth might emerge as a result of those questions?"

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She added that in 1994 the Taoiseach had castigated the then government for not allowing a question and answer session at the conclusion of the debate on the beef tribunal report.

"I can understand the anguish of Deputy Quill. I can relate to it," Mr Quinn replied. "However, I cannot forgive either you or your party leader in attempting to act in the way that you are." He added that the Government had nothing to hide on the issue.

Mr Michael Finucane (FG, Limerick West) said the PDs should be constructive and address issues relating to the three former Fianna Fail ministers for health.

Later, Mr Quinn said: "This is a scandal of unprecedented proportions. It goes back probably to 1970, certainly to 1975. There is not a party in this House that has not been in office some time during that stage. This is a scandal on the citizens of this State. .. It should never happen again. Let us, in the course of the debate, stop playing party politics..."

He added that a politician, who had held office in the House, he was ashamed of what had happened, "and I hope that no government will ever again be in a position to have this to happen."

The Government defeated the Fianna Fail proposal to have a question and answer session with the Minister by 69 votes to 50.