Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

That is why Tralee is not included in this motion.

I am appalled at the attitude of Government Deputies who said this fight was lost when statements were issued by management. Members of hospital management do the jobs they are supposed to; politicians reflect the views of the people and make political decisions in the best interests of the community. I inform the Minister, Deputy Harney, that I would not stand here and defend this motion in the name of Fine Gael if I did not believe that the standards of surgery, clinical outcome and survival stand up. The Minister has not proven anything in this debate to date to demonstrate that the service in Sligo or in Mayo General Hospital should not continue.

Last week, I met Professor Keane and when I told him that Letterkenny is being set up as a satellite entity on geographical grounds, rather than medical grounds, he said: "I am very upset about this." He is here as a facilitator to implement a Government policy that has been handed to him. Whether there were ten, five or 20 centres he would implement the policy and the Minister knows this is the case.

When Deputy Bertie Ahern came before the House on his last day as Taoiseach, he said he had made representations to Professor Keane and they could not be changed. Who, in the name of God, is in charge in this country? The reason these people are in the Gallery is that they do not believe the Minister, Deputy Harney, anymore and I will tell her why this is the case. This morning, I spoke of people with no voice — those in palliative care, those who need psychiatric assessments and those under the charge of the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, who vowed to get back the €25 million that was allocated to the Minister but has not been spent on front line services.

The Minister can carry this message to the Taoiseach — his vow to Deputy Reilly that he would silence me in this House will not be carried through. I will not be beaten down in standing up for those with no voice or in outlining the case for people who need and deserve services and who have had the services they receive stripped away.

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