Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

No, the surgical hub is not part of a deal because there was a commitment in the programme for Government for a surgical hub in the north west, on which the HSE is currently finalising a feasibility study. We cannot interfere in that feasibility study nor am I going to interfere in that feasibility study re the potential north-west hub and a business case will be submitted to the Department of Health for consideration in due course.

As the Deputy has mentioned, there has been discussion vis-à-vis Sligo. People have advanced it. The Minister of State, Deputy Marian Harkin, is clearly supportive and is advocating strongly for Sligo. Of that there is no doubt.

In respect of Deputies representing Donegal, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has been knocking my door down. The Deputy present will know that when Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher starts knocking on a door that he does not stop knocking. Obviously the Minister of State, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, the Deputy himself and others are pursuing it. I hear what the Deputy says in terms of two hubs. I also think that the north west should be looked at in its entirety. I think Altnagelvin should also come into, maybe not for surgical hubs but the general planning because sometimes Letterkenny gets kind of worried about that. I remember visiting Altnagelvin and a person from Inishowen saying to me that only for Altnagelvin and the investment we put into its cardiac centre that he would not be alive. The guy was only in Altnagelvin for 36 or 48 hours and he was leaving after stents were put in. My view is that it is far better that people go to Altnagelvin than to Galway so I think we need to be more creative and more expansionary in terms of our relationship with Altnagelvin, Letterkenny and Sligo. We should look at it in that context. There is a remoteness and a geographic issue that I am confident we can work with the HSE to try to get resolved.