Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to come in with a few additional questions arising from earlier. Just before the Dáil rose for the summer, Mr. Robert Watt and Mr. Paul Reid sat directly across from the witnesses in this same room. Both Senator Conway and I extensively probed the idea of an elective hospital in the mid-west. It was very obvious it is not something they support. As they have advised Government, they support having elective hospitals in counties Dublin, Cork and Galway. Is it frustrating to the witnesses that the chain of command right up to Mr. Watt and Mr. Reid does not believe it should happen? That is very evident. They kept saying it is for Government to decide. However, their recommendation is for counties Dublin, Cork and Galway. That is the recommendation Sláintecare and the Department of Health gave to the Minister and Cabinet by way of memo. That is what the advice has been. Therefore, somewhere in that vertical chain of command there is somebody who does not believe in an elective hospital. Does that frustrate the witnesses? They should please use the liberty of this room to criticise their senior management team in the HSE.