Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Regarding the process, 90% of the documentation to enable bidders to tender has been sent and the formal request for tender is on the HSE board agenda for Friday week. Formal tender bids have not been issued and will not be issued until after that meeting.

I wish to reiterate two points I have made on many occasions. I have seen letters on the argument relating to accident and emergency services. The new facilities will have to meet specific requirements including the ability to admit private patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the public hospital, from the accident and emergency department and from general practitioners, and they will have to have the capacity to treat all patients currently catered for in the public hospital and through joint governance. There will be one entrance to the accident and emergency department on the campus so the idea that people will be refused, as the Deputy suggested last week and today, is false.

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