Harney’s absence during crisis ‘adds to information vacuum’

THE absence from the country of Health Minister Mary Harney is only “adding to the information vacuum” surrounding unread X-rays and GP referral letters in Tallaght, and possibly other hospitals.

Pressure is growing on the minister to cut short her 15-day trip to New Zealand as Fine Gael said the scandal of unread X-rays at Tallaght may have occurred elsewhere.

The opposition health spokesperson, James Reilly, said: “The CEO of each hospital in Ireland must now make a public statement confirming there are no X-rays unreported by consultant radiologists at each hospital.”