asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that safety precautions in hospitals are being observed and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not clear what particular safety precautions the Deputy has in mind. Compliance with safety precautions is a matter for the hospital authorities in the first instance and I have no reason to believe that such precautions are not being observed.

My Department issue circulars to hospital authorities from time to time on various aspects of safety precautions, for example, those related to fire and the use of X-ray apparatus and radioactive substances.