John Gormley

Statement by Green Party Chairman, John Gormley TD

The statement by the Tánaiste and PD leader about the Taoiseach’s acceptance of donations from business people is a serious cop-out. The gentle admonishment – that this was an “honest error of judgment” – is an insult to the many people who voted for the PDs because they would keep an eye on Fianna Fail.

His phrase “single party government – no thanks” must now be coming back to haunt Michael McDowell. Clearly, he has decided to put political ambition ahead of principle by continuing in Government.

One can only imagine what McDowell’s rabid reaction might have been like had he been in opposition. Today Bertie Ahern said that he had never put his private interests ahead of the pubic good. Fianna Fáil and the PDs have always put vested interests ahead of the public good.

The new neo-conservative PDs will continue to do this under the leadership of Michael McDowell.

765. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the discovery of a venomous snake in Kerry in August; the facilities that are in place in this country to deal with snake bites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29680/06]

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109. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the background of companies involved in public private partnerships; and if she has satisfied herself that the Irish taxpayer will receive value for money from the co-location projects. [30010/06]

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164. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of the PPARS project, the cost to date, what has been delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29556/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of the health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to have the matter investigated and to provide the details requested directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

164. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of the PPARS project, the cost to date, what has been delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29556/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of the health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to have the matter investigated and to provide the details requested directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

702. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of physiotherapists qualifying here in 2005 and 2006 who are employed in the Irish health service; the number of vacancies for newly qualified physiotherapists in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29000/06]

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629. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the action which has been taken to create public awareness of osteoporosis; the further action which has been taken to lessen the burden of osteoporosis on the Irish taxpayer; the action which has been taken to help the Irish Osteoporosis Society to continue its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28483/06]

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Mr. Gormley: This morning the Tánaiste said the Progressive Democrats believes in accountability, though he refused to answer two of my questions regarding payments received by the Taoiseach from sources in Manchester. Had his privacy legislation been in place, the recent stories relating to payments to the Taoiseach would not have emerged. The purpose of that legislation is to protect the most powerful and wealthy people in society. I believe this is the function of the neo-conservative Progressive Democrats. There is very little accountability.

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648. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the statistics in relation to the incidence of Lyme disease here; her views on whether awareness of the fact that this disease can be transmitted to humans via tick bites needs to be increased and that it should be a notifiable disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28561/06]

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630. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children when she intends to implement the twenty recommendations which were made in June 2006 by the working group set up by her to advise her on the action necessary to address the problems caused by haemochromatosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28484/06]

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