I want to raise with the Tánaiste the need for a culture of safety in our hospitals and, equally, for the right to know when a doctor has been struck off. There has been another allegation of sexual assault of a patient by a doctor in Naas General Hospital, which is in my constituency. It was featured on “RTÉ Investigates” this week and it dates back to 2011. This exposes how in 2017, when a similar allegation was made, the HSE did not disclose earlier cases. We need to know why and how this happened. This raises serious questions around procedure and the lack of safety within the HSE. What steps is the Government taking to ensure safety and to ensure mandatory disclosure by the Irish Medical Council of a doctor being struck off? This is necessary in order that the public and other hospitals abroad can discover what has happened when they do a search. I hope the Tánaiste appreciates that this is not just about the Opposition and the Government. This is about the safety of our people when they are attending a hospital.

I totally agree with the Deputy’s sentiments in this regard. I was appalled to read about what happened in Naas. I read that a doctor has been struck off in recent times. I will have to follow up on this because I am not exactly sure of the current position. However, it would make sense to me that if the Medical Council strikes somebody off, it should-----

It is alleged that he is working elsewhere.

-----be publicly disclosed so that patients are aware and other potential employers are aware, not just in Ireland but abroad. The last thing we want is people being struck off in one country and then being hired in another. That has actually happened. The Deputy raises a very important issue. I will follow up on it.