Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

As the Deputy is aware the matter of co-location arises in the next question and we will deal with the matter then. The big issue with acute hospital beds is how they are used, it is not only the number of beds involved. There can be a significant discrepancy between hospitals in the country in the level of activity between one and another even if the budgets are very similar. That is the reason I seek more day case activity and shorter in-patient stays for hospitals. I believe with such changes we can deliver the level of service necessary in the country during 2009.

See this speech in context