Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It is his Government's implementation of the Hanly report that led directly to the death of Patrick Walsh. This policy was already in operation before Mr. Hanly reported at all. Make no mistake about it, up to 16 unnecessary and avoidable deaths have occurred in Monaghan General Hospital over the period since the tragic loss of baby Bronagh Livingstone.

Does the Taoiseach not accept that ongoing adherence to this policy is nothing less than criminal? When will the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste listen to the public, to the patients, to the health care professionals at Cavan and Monaghan and a variety of other professional opinion already expressed? When will they restore the life-saving services that have been taken from our hospital and community?

Is the Taoiseach aware that last month, the consultant surgeons at Cavan and Monaghan hospitals signed a joint appeal to the Health Service Executive and indeed to the Tánaiste to allow Monaghan General Hospital to go back on call for acute surgical emergencies——

See this speech in context