Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This would indicate major spending cuts in various Departments will be announced and spoken about in greater detail come September. Is this to include the Department of Health? In what areas of health will there be further curtailments? Will there be further curtailments in accident and emergency departments and other disciplines in other hospitals throughout the country or will supplementary funding be provided for that Department before then?

During the past number of months Deputy Kelleher has on several occasions asked the Minister for Health if he will be introducing a supplementary budget to maintain the commitment given by him in relation to his Department, based on what has been said by many candidates in February. Perhaps the Minister will make an unambiguous statement in this regard. Last week, we asked the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to list in order of preference the hospitals that would get first call on junior doctors as appointments were ratified. This would allow for details of contingency plans in smaller hospitals to be published and scrutinised. Obviously, I am mindful of hospitals in my constituency of Portlaoise and Tullamore. The Minister did not accede to that request but said he would know more the following day and so on. This culminated in what happened yesterday in regard to Roscommon County Hospital.

Deputy Charles Flanagan eventually announced that the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise would not be affected. I have accepted his word in this regard and expect confirmation in that regard following the passing of this legislation and subsequent appointment of personnel to that hospital. I expect that the Bill will allow HSE personnel to confirm unambiguously that services in the midlands area will not be affected. We need confirmation and unambiguous commitments in this regard. On Tuesday last, the Dublin-Mid Leinster Regional Health Forum was told that the midland health group will maintain 24 hour emergency services from 11 July pending clarification of a number of issues. As late as last Tuesday, clarification was pending. When I contacted the HSE today and asked for clarification I was told in a communication that it is not envisaged that there will be any impact on midland regional hospitals.

I ask that the Minister put this issue to bed once and for all. The Minister told us last Thursday he would know more the following day and so on. At that stage 221 of the 475 appointments had been agreed. How many appointments have been agreed to date? If the Minister can tell us that, he can then put on the record and publish a list of hospitals that will not be affected, a list of hospitals that will be affected and a list of contingency plans for other hospitals, following which we can scrutinise those lists to see if they hold water and can let the public know what they are facing in this regard.

Like many other members of the Opposition, Fianna Fáil has no problem in supporting the passage of this Bill. We acknowledge the need for it and the Minister's commitment in bringing it forward as soon as available. It is hoped the Bill is water tight and that these appointments can be made following its passage. It is incumbent on the Minister to publish before this week is out a list of hospitals that will not be affected and hospitals that will be affected. In respect of those hospitals that will be affected, I want to see contingency plans. As a public representative, I am entitled to scrutinise those contingency plans on behalf of the people who elected me to this House.

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