Dr. Holohan’s comments at Dáil Committee indicate things are moving in the right direction.

Fine Gael Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has welcomed the progress that is being made in relation to the PIP breast implant scandal, saying recent comments by the Department of Health Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, that he wanted to ensure that the cost of rectifying the situation for the women who had faulty implants fitted would not fall to the taxpayer was a welcome development.
“The women at the centre of this scandal have been in a living hell. When I met with them, they likened their situation to having a ticking timebomb inside them. The fact that some progress is now being made in sorting things out, is not before time.
“Comments made this week by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Holohan, that he wanted to ensure that the cost of rectifying this situation falls, not to the taxpayer but to the providers is to be welcomed. It is my strong hope now that where clinics have been cooperating, that that cooperation continues and where cooperation has been lacking, that it is soon replaced with a willingness to face up to responsibility.
“The Minister for Health has confirmed his intention to regulate public and private healthcare providers, including cosmetic surgery clinics, through the Licensing of Health Facilities Bill so that patient safety can be improved by ensuring that healthcare providers do not operate below core standards.
“The introduction of legislation to force all medical clinical practitioners to have adequate clinical indemnity insurance is also expected by the end of the year. This will go some way to improving patient confidence in a sector that has been badly damaged by the PIP debacle.

“Cosmetic surgery is not something that should be entered into lightly. However, we must endeavour to ensure that any and all clinical practices in the State are fit for purpose and that those engaging the services of a clinician, of any kind, do so safe in the knowledge that all safety standards are being met.”