Dr. Niall Colwell:

There is a population of 1.3 million in the greater Dublin area and nine catheterisation laboratories. There are 13 catheterisation laboratories in Northern Ireland, two of these are open in the western trust which has a catchment area of 300,000 people, both have 24-7 laboratories. In the island of Ireland, we have resource replete and resource deplete areas. Under the ethical guidelines of the Medical Council, we have ethical standards to advocate for our patients. We are being asked to look into the future and have an inadequate service. We must advocate for our patients and say that what is being provided at the moment is inadequate. We are just asking for it to be made adequate, not any more than anywhere else.