Dermot Fitzpatrick (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy McGrath for his support. This is where the bulk of essential surgical, medical and emergency expertise is based, with a tradition going back centuries. The Rotunda Hospital was founded over 250 years ago. I was a member of that hospital's board for some years and was delighted and honoured to serve there. The ethos at the Rotunda Hospital is nearer that of Tallaght hospital than the Mater hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Blanchardstown hospital or Temple Street children's hospital. Yet a recent statement indicates they wish to move their facilities to a Mater hospital campus. A body of expertise and experience is being assembled on the north side of Dublin city with a dedication to the treatment of people unrivalled in Ireland.

I conducted some research recently and found that over 70% of those arriving at hospitals, including the seriously injured, came on foot or by public transport. We will build a metro station under the Mater hospital so talk of access to the new tertiary hospital facility is facetious to say the least. The tertiary hospital discussion has been muddied by people with vested interests, not all of which are in the best interests of the patients they purport to look after.

Deputy Finian McGrath will be interested to hear that neurosurgery facilities for children under five years of age will move to Temple Street children's hospital. This is not because neurosurgical facilities there are better than at Beaumont Hospital, but because over the years a body of expertise, knowledge and experience in anaesthesia dealing with seriously ill children has been built up.

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