Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

On the national children's hospital, I make it clear that the Government is determined to go ahead with the building of the national children's hospital. Obviously, we must consider the outcome of An Bord Pleanála's decision and we have provided the funding for it.

It is not acceptable that anybody must wait for medical treatment or that anybody, in particular, cystic fibrosis patients, would have to stay at home. It is not acceptable that patients must wait on trolleys in a hospital or that the type of arrangements of which Deputy Finian McGrath spoke must be made on an emergency basis.

That is why the Government, first, in respect of hospital services for children, is determined to go ahead with the building of the national children's hospital. That is why the Government is determined to press ahead with the reform we have initiated in the health service to get it to operate more efficiently and in the best interests of patients.

The Government is committed to the cystic fibrosis unit in St. Vincent's Hospital. There is a target for completion of that and the Government is committed to that target.

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