Harney proposes expert to end organ retention inquiry

TANAISTE Mary Harney is to bring proposals to Cabinet shortly which will allow the organ retention scandal inquiry to be completed by an expert, her spokesman said yesterday.

The Health Minister was severely criticised by opposition parties in the Dáil yesterday and the Parents for Justice Group for calling a halt to the Dunne Inquiry into organ retention before it finished its work. The inquiry which has cost the taxpayer almost €20 million over the past four years will be wound up in March.

Fine Gael health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey hit out at the Government for halting the inquiry without full details of the scandal being investigated. “The parents of involved deserve full disclosure on the organ controversy,” he said.