Mattie McGrath demands inquiry into missing blood samples
Mattie McGrath pressed the Taoiseach on a long-running case about missing blood samples linked to an industrial pollution investigation and demanded the promised review and a public inquiry. He said the government performed a U-turn in 2003 that halted a review and alleged evidence points to Deputy CMO Dr Tony Houlihan as having intervened.
Background of the case
For more than 20 years Pat and Noona Gagan, from Askeedon, and Councillor Emery have called for a public inquiry into blood samples that went missing during one of the biggest investigations into industrial pollution. McGrath set out their persistent public protests and the ongoing demand for answers.
Allegation of a 2003 U-turn
McGrath recalled that a review was called for on 1 April 2003 but that the review was stopped a month later after what he described as a U-turn. He criticised the Taoiseach for not following through on the review that had been promised nearly two decades ago.
Claim about Dr Tony Houlihan's involvement
McGrath alleged that at three meetings the Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the time, Dr Tony Houlihan, accompanied the Taoiseach and that the review was halted at Dr Houlihan's behest. He said the Gagans possess written information and other evidence indicating the Deputy CMO stopped the review.
Request for a meeting and renewed review
McGrath asked the Taoiseach to meet the Gagans, to listen to their evidence, and to carry out the review that had been promised almost 20 years earlier. He pressed for the government to take up the matter again in light of the written material the family has submitted.
Taoiseach's response in the debate
The Taoiseach said he was not in a position at that moment to confirm whether Dr Tony Houlihan was the person alleged to have stopped the review. The exchange closed with McGrath stressing the need for further discussion and a meeting with the family and the Taoiseach.
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For more than 20 years, Pat and Noona Gagan, Taoiseach, from Askeedon, Councillor Emery, have been calling for a public inquiry into the blood samples that went missing during one of the biggest investigations ever into industrial pollution. You already know this, Saga Taoiseach, because you met Gagan's Minister for Health. In fact, you called for a review on 1 April 2003 into the missing blood samples. Then you did a U-turn a month later and stopped your review. And was this, at three meetings with him, at the Deputy CMO at the time, Dr Tony Houlihan, accompanied you? And was this review stopped at the behest of Dr Houlihan? Because Gagan found me have evidence that it was. In fact, they have written information saying that it was stopped by the Deputy CMO. It's 20 years later. They're outside the gateway protesting. Will you meet with them? Will you listen to them? And will you carry out the review that you promised back nearly 20 years ago, please? You just said it's an issue that you've given a perspective on it in relation to 20 years ago. I'm not in a position to, here now, to confirm that Dr Houlihan was the person in relation to allegedly stopping a review or whatever. But then, thank you. We need to talk to you. Thank you. Thank you.
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