PATIENTS could have full confidence in the new bone marrow transplant unit at St James's Hospital, Dublin, the Minister of State for Health said. Mr Brian O'Shea was responding in an adjournment debate to the Fianna Fail health spokeswoman, Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn, who said a report in yesterday's Irish Independent raised serious questions.

Were any patients made ill before the discovery of a penicillin resistant bacteria was discovered in the new unit which was opened yesterday? One would expect that in a new building no such infection could creep in.

"This episode raises again concerns about the absence of a system of co ordinated audits for hospitals and health agencies," she said.

The Minister said he had received a full report from the hospital. The organism in question was commonplace and there were regular tests for it. The existence of the organism in the water system had been identified before the unit was opened. No clinical illness had been identified as a result.