John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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There is no question but that the Herity report is fatally and fundamentally flawed. Meeting Dr. Herity earlier has copperfastened my opinion in that regard. The objective of inviting the consultants here today was to put everything on record. In the last six months, the consultants have been - on both local and national media - comprehensive in their analysis of the Herity report and of its failings and flaws. There is no point in me going through the list of questions I put to Dr. Herity and putting them to the consultants because they have answered them in the media time and time again.

I would like to point out that I received information from the National Roads Authority, NRA, that there has been a 40 minute delay in Killeagh, on the road from Waterford to Cork, since last September and that this delay will persist for the next three months. That is Dr. Herity's 90-minute timeframe shot down straight away.

Regarding the recommendation to increase the opening hours of the lab from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., do the witnesses think there is a danger that it could actually pose an increased risk to patients, in the sense of heart attack patients being delayed outside the door of a single catheterisation lab while waiting for the facility to be vacated by cases that are already on the table? That is very important because great store is being put in this 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. proposal. I am aware already that many of the consultants here today are working way beyond the official hours.

What do the consultants want this committee to do? What recommendations do they think the committee should make? Committees can make recommendations. I am not a member of this committee and I thank the Chairman for allowing me to attend this meeting and to speak at it. It is imperative that the consultants tell the committee what recommendations it should make in terms of pushing forward. I am particularly interested in hearing their views on the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. proposal.