Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

How can it be argued that these people do not know what they are talking about? It is not a HSE initiative. As recently as 29 March this year, the Minister for Health and Children made a statement in the House and Government backbenchers should read up on it. They cannot go around the doorsteps whispering that this is a Harney-McDowell frolic. The Minister, Deputy Harney, stated, "In July 2005, following Government approval, I issued a policy direction to the Health Service Executive to develop co-located private hospitals on the sites of public hospitals".

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