Mr. Barry Torpey:

If the Chair will allow me, I will read some submitted information. It is a copy of the briefing statement from the HSE on 8 December 2020. I will take one paragraph that will sum it up. It said that the south-east community healthcare area "has advised staff previously attached to St. Brigid's that its role as a short-stay inpatient care facility is being discontinued" and that it took this decision "in light of current infection, prevention and control best practice and in the context of the layout of St. Brigid's premises – which features narrow hallways, inadequate space and facilities available in two wards of five beds each". That was the smoking gun to close the hospital. That is all that was given.