Kenny: Concerns over safety in other hospitals apart from Roscommon

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said it is nobody's fault but a "fact of life" that some practices in Roscommon and other small hospitals are unsafe.

There have been rowdy scenes in the Dáil after the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin asked Mr Kenny why straight-forward promises about the hospital had been "abandoned".

Mr Kenny said: "That's not the individual fault of any one person working in the hospital, but it's just a fact of life that a situation exists in a number of small hospitals that is not the way we would like it to be."

The Taoiseach rounded on Mr Martin describing his assertions as "pathetic".

Mr Kenny signalled other hospitals will have to have services cut, because of unsafe practices.

Mr Kenny said: "The Health and Information Quality Authority expressed concern about a number of hospitals, including Roscommon, in this regard.

"The consultants in the region have also expressed fears in respect of safety here."