Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

In that case it was a cruel deception and a blatant untruth.

The Tánaiste calls on us all to work together. The opening sentence of the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley that "It should be clear by now that the Tánaiste has put accident and emergency services at the top of her and the Government's agenda" will be ridiculed in Wexford. If the Minister of State had any notion of how strongly the people of Wexford feel about their betrayal 13 months ago, he would know why his statement will provoke unmitigated anger.

The hospital needs the immediate release of the 19 beds, and hopefully the 40 beds originally planned, because the fast track has been so slow it is nonsense. The outpatients department has plans to move to a purpose built unit and the accident and emergency unit is to expand into the space formerly occupied by the outpatients department. The money for the outpatients department should be released so that the accident and emergency department can expand, and a proper outpatients facility be provided. That is needed now. I have invited the Tánaiste to visit the hospital.

The Taoiseach will be in Wexford this Friday. On behalf of the hospital's medical board, Mr. Ken Mealy invited the Taoiseach to visit the hospital. I hope the Taoiseach accepts the invitation. It is interesting that the only speakers from the Government benches tonight were Progressive Democrats. No member of Fianna Fáil wants to share the odium of this issue.

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