Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I am indicating why I believe the Minister should, as Deputy Gilmore says, come before the House. The points that I am making are relevant to the situation that currently obtains, of which the evidence set out yesterday in the review of the X-rays and scans carried out in Drogheda and Navan is but the most recent example. Consultants, doctors, nurses and support staff are placed in intolerable working conditions. Services have been temporarily closed in all our hospitals and, in respect of a number of hospitals, permanently removed. People have died unnecessarily in the north east as a consequence of these actions, which have been presided over by the Minister.

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