Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this important debate on the Private Members' motion before the House tonight on the subject of co-location. I firmly support the position adopted by the Minister for Health and Children and the Government in co-locating private beds on grounds attached to our public hospitals.

The Minister should be complimented on the initiative and I also compliment her on the initiative to create the National Treatment Purchase Fund. That has been a success second to none. Deputy McDaid stated that from his surgery alone, 171 patients have benefitted from this scheme.

See this speech in context