asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances of the discharge from the Mercy Hospital, Cork, on 26 October 1987 of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was homeless and who died on the following morning; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

182.

asked the Minister for Health if he will facilitate the holding of a sworn public inquiry into the circumstances of the death of a homeless person (details supplied) at the Simon Community shelter in Cork on 27 October, 1987 following his discharge from the Mercy Hospital, Cork, the previous day.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 182 together.

I have received a report on the case referred to by the Deputies from the hospital concerned. There are aspects of the case which I feel require further examination. I have arranged for the Chief Medical Officer of my Department to carry out a detailed investigation and report to me, as quickly as possible.

Can I ask when the Minister envisages such a report will be available to him and if, in turn, he will make the report, prepared for his Department, available to the Deputies of this House especially those who have tabled these questions?

I can make the report available to the two Deputies, Deputy Higgins and Deputy Sherlock, who submitted the questions and Deputy De Rossa also.

Can I ask the Minister if in view of the disquiet that has been expressed by the public, and indeed public representatives, he has taken any steps in relation to the Mercy Hospital and in relation to the manner of dealing with patients of the Mercy Hospital to ensure that everything is in order and that there is no possibility of a recurrence of what appeared to happen on this occasion?

I have received statements by the doctors and the nurses who attended the patient. I have also seen a press report of the coroner's report. The coroner exonerated the Mercy Hospital staff from any blame. I have asked the chief medical officer and a senior official of my Department to carry out a detailed investigation into aspects of the case which I feel require further examination and I will convey the results of that report, when I receive it, to Deputy Higgins, Deputy Sherlock and Deputy Allen.

May I ask——

I will allow a brief supplementary. I want to proceed to deal with questions nominated for priority.

May I ask the Minister if he is aware that the Simon Community who were asked to take the man concerned into their hostel sought to have the man readmitted to the Mercy Hospital on three occasions and that the Mercy Hospital refused? Is he satisfied that that is the proper way of dealing with requests to have people admitted to the Mercy Hospital?

I sought a brief supplementary from the Deputy. We cannot debate that now.

I am not debating it. I am looking for an assurance from the Minister that neither the Mercy Hospital nor any other hospital can refuse the admittance of a sick person.

As I said, I received a report from the hospital and, as I also said, the coroner exonerated the hospital from any blame. I have asked the chief medical officer and an official from my Department to investigate the matter further and to report to me.

Question No. 53 in the name of Deputy Bernard Allen is a question nominated for priority.