Ms Mary Brosnan:

The only point that has not yet been really mentioned is the unmet gynaecology need in the region. There are hundreds of women on various waiting lists around the Ireland east area - not just in the Dublin south area - that are awaiting procedures. We have had big investment in women's health this year and we will have big investment next year. The Minister keeps mentioning the €9 million programme and it is very helpful for women's health. It will take more than a few years to get into this hospital but when we do we will have the extra operating facilities to meet that unmet need. Gynaecology is still secondary to all the other sub-specialties in surgery that are required. In the St. Vincent's hospital, for example, it is really hard to get theatre time.

We must keep site of what we are trying to deal with just to meet women's health. It is not just maternity but women's health across a region. This will be an Ireland east hospital and it will provide an enormous resource for all the women across Ireland and equally in the region of Ireland east, which is all of Leinster.