DNA database for missing persons
Senator Cullinane supports the Committee for the Forgotten’s call for a missing-persons DNA database and proper forensic testing, then asks about the proposed break-up of the south-east hospital network and its potential job and service losses.
I welcome to the Visitors Gallery members of the Committee for the Forgotten who attended a presentation in the House earlier today. The committee is a support organisation for missing persons and has a number of very simple demands. The committee asks that a DNA database be put in place for all missing persons and also that proper DNA and forensic testing be carried out on all human remains that are found so that families can get closure. I support the committee in its demands and thank all of the Senators, from all political parties, who showed their support today.
Twice last week I raised the issue of the position of the Minister for Health and called for his resignation. On both occasions I was attacked by members of Fine Gael and the Labour Party in this House. I have since found out that members of the Labour Party, including a serving Minister, also support my party's view that the Minister for Health is not up to the job.
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The Senator should not believe everything he reads in the newspapers.
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It is nothing but rumours and gossip.
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I do. My question relates to the Minister for Health's plans to break up the south-east hospital network. A report was published yesterday by Mr. Jim Power, economist, which details the number of jobs which will be lost if the plan goes ahead. Almost 1,000 jobs will be lost and services such as oncology, trauma medicine, cardiology and neurology could be lost to Waterford Regional Hospital, which will have a negative impact on patients across the south east. I ask the Leader to ascertain whether the Higgins report been presented to the Minister and to ensure that when the report is presented that it is also published without delay. In that way all public representatives, the South East Hospital Action Group and the people of the Waterford and the south east will have an opportunity to study what is being recommended and to influence the decision which will be made. As the Leader knows, at the end of the day the decision will be a political one and it will have profound consequences for the people of Waterford and the south east if it is the wrong one. I am calling on the Leader to make sure that when the Higgins report is given to the Minister, it is published as soon as possible thereafter.