Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Reilly for tabling this motion. I feel very different tonight because I have a number of colleagues around me. So often in the past few years, I was a lone voice when I spoke about this issue in regard to Monaghan General Hospital. As Deputy Noonan and Deputy Reilly pointed out, we in the Cavan-Monaghan region have come through much of this. Seventeen people may not have died if Monaghan General Hospital had not been off call at the time of those deaths. Unfortunately, we are soon heading back to that kind of situation. When 41 doctors advise that they are worried about this, yet we are told at the same time that everything is fine, then one wonders where are the structures that allow for discussions to take place.

One of my colleagues on the Government side asked the Minister of the day why there was such an undue haste about the issue. Another of my colleagues on the Government side, Deputy O'Hanlon, clearly stated that what is left in Monaghan General Hospital is safe. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case now. What is often promised is not delivered, and even though we have been told over the past few months that things would be ready in a matter of weeks, they are still not ready or tested.

I remember when the maternity unit was taken out of Monaghan. I did not object to it at the time, because I could understand the rationale behind it. We would be catered for in Cavan and in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which is supposed to be the specialist maternity hospital for the region. Yet the Neary issue has caused tremendous trouble to many people. As some people were on the wrong side of a particular date, they still have not been compensated. In more recent times, the wife of a good friend of mine lost her life, as did her child. The reason given for their deaths was pressure on the system. The people involved could not deal with what was happening.

I ask the Minister to take all these things into account. The issue is about saving money. One cannot think that this is about saving money or lives when we look at the history of Monaghan. I do not know where the money being saved is going. Close to €6 million was spent on two wards in Monaghan, and these will now be completely restructured. A CT scanner and beds are lying in storage outside Monaghan town, for which rent is being paid. There is no effort to save money or otherwise. I was in Monaghan General Hospital late last night visiting a friend, and I noticed that staff are in a quandary as they do not know what the future holds. I was in Cavan a week ago, and I could see how difficult the situation has become. Our experience is that Cavan and Monaghan can no longer cope. I warn my colleagues that the same situation will occur in Nenagh and Ennis.

Let nobody be in any doubt that this is a Fianna Fáil Government supported policy. The Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, made it clear in his speech that it is Government policy to repeat what it is doing in Monaghan in both Ennis and Nenagh.

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