Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this very important debate. I had intended to spend my five minutes talking about a range of national issues and support my colleague Deputy Fiona O'Malley in respect of Loughlinstown. However, no debate on health, this week or any other week, could go ahead without some mention of Tallaght Hospital, of which I am very proud.

I will not rehash the point I made repeatedly over recent weeks, particularly at meetings of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, chaired by Deputy Moloney. Suffice it to say that this is not just an issue for Tallaght but also for the Dublin region, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. We need clarity regarding what is to happen. The decision to situate the major children's hospital on the site of the Mater has been made. I live within the shadow of Tallaght Hospital and have been involved in the project since 1988 when I was first appointed to the board by the then Minister for Health, Deputy O'Hanlon. He made a good choice.

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