More to follow.
Covers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie
Thanks Enda Bolger, Garrett Rowe
Category Archives: News
Speaking under parliamentary privilege today in the Seanad, Professor John Crown made further allegations against the board of St Vincent’s Hospital.
Professor John Crown: “The needs of those who require social inclusion, I think also includes those who have held challenges – and in this regard, I must just state in supporting the amendment that in September of 2002, a member of the administration of St. Vincent’s Private Hospital told me that the hospital had been billing VHI and other insurers in respect of drugs which had been provided to that institution for free, for research studies.
In the letter he stated that this was inadvertent and invited me to join with the hospital in making a joint approach to the insurers. Other documents which were provided to me had shown that this was untrue {gets interrupted} … that the billing was in fact..that the billing was deliberate and only ceased when the VHI found out. Incidentally, they found out from me.
The only defence the hospital could attempt was the absurd notion that {gets interrupted} they did not know that their research programme existed in their own hospital, despite dozens of staff being involved in reams of paper documenting its existence. When they were caught out, they next attempted to prove that the research programme was illegal {gets interrupted}. They spent tens, if not thousands of euro, public money (gets interrupted) in an attempt to criminalize a part of their own organisation. As a result of their action – the research programme was closed down for a year – women were denied access to a drug, Herceptin – which we now know was life-saving. {gets interrupted and asked to return to his seat} Though it was not the intention of the doctors, or those who attempted the cover-up {gets interrupted} – as an indirect result of their actions, women died. My hospital, its management and its board failed these women and should be forced to resign.”
Previously: Malignant
From today’s Irish Daily Mail:
Rhona Mahony has repeatedly failed to give the HSE evidence to support her claim that her €45,000 salary top-up was in respect of fees from private patients. Despite ‘several’ attempts from senior HSE figures to get information, the Master of the National Maternity Hospital has not explained how her €236,000 HSE salary is topped up.
PAC chairman John McGuinness said Dr Mahony would be compelled to come before the committee if she did not explain her top-up to the HSE.
Yesterday, it emerged that Dr Mahony even attended a high-level meeting with HSE director general Tony O’Brien last month where she was asked to hand over payslips and bank documents dating back four years. After details of Dr Mahony’s salary became public last month, a PR firm issued a statement on her behalf, claiming that the €45,000 – paid on top of a €236,000 HSE salary – was ‘in respect of professional fees from private patients attending the National Maternity Hospital’.
Has the Mail lost the true meaning of Christmas?
YOU decide.
HSE: Dr Rhona Won’t Explain €45,000 Top-up (Philip Ryan, Irish Daily Mail) (not available online)
Previously: My Cher Rhona
Professional Fees From Private Patients
Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
[File pic: Loyalist protesters burn a tricolour at Belfast City Hall in December 2012]
The flying of the Irish tricolour on government buildings has been ruled out by Richard Haass. The former US diplomat is heading a team attempting to resolve the issues of parades, flags and the past. It is understood his proposals include a licensing system for the flying of flags, a trauma centre and new bodies for dealing with parading and the past.
He appears to have ruled out the flying of the Irish tricolour on government buildings but backed designated days for flying the union flag. Dr Haass will meet the parties individually on Friday morning and there will be a round table session in the afternoon.
Haass proposals: Flying of Irish tricolour ruled out (Stephen Walker, BBC News NI)
Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
More to follow.
Covers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie
Thanks Enda Cunningham, Meliosa Fitzgibbon, Enda Bolger, Garrett Rowe and Joe Donnelly.
More to follow.
Covers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie
Thanks Patrick Conboy, Iain Henderson, Garrett Rowe, Enda Bolger, Padraig Glynn and Joe Donnellly.
Dunnes Stores has been accused of clamping the cars of its own workers and fining them €50 every time. The decision has been taken at the retail giant’s Newbridge store in Co Kildare, according to trade union Mandate. It’s understood that staff had been able to use the car park previously but a decision was taken recently to withdraw the facility.
Outspan, anyone?
Google Street View
Via EveningEcho.ie and Independent_ie
A new Northern Ireland flag should be created to complement the Union Flag – but flying the Irish Tricolour would probably see Stormont collapse, a unionist veteran has said.
Lord Kilclooney, who was first elected to the old Stormont in 1965 and served as a minister under both James Chichester-Clark and Brian Faulkner, warned that any attempt to fly the Republic of Ireland’s flag north of the border would be deeply destabilising.
“As a result of the Belfast Agreement the people of the Republic of Ireland voted to abandon their territorial claim over Northern Ireland. To now fly the Tricolour officially would be contrary to that decision and would undermine the Agreement, leading probably to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly.”
New Northern Ireland flag should be created, says Lord Kilclooney (Sam McBride, Belfast Newsletter)
Previously: Anything Good In The Irish News?
Brian O’Leary/Photocall Ireland