Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

We are again being given a cart-before-the-horse situation where services will be withdrawn from hospitals that provide them with the promise that services will be in place in the Mid-West Regional Hospital. I will again quote from the HSE west report given to representatives last week:

2009 will be a very challenging year in providing the existing level of services with significantly reduced resources requiring ongoing monitoring of the budget situation. Where adverse budget variances are identified [that is lovely HSE speak] measures which may have implications for the level of service provided will need to be taken swiftly to ensure a break-even position by year-end.

It will all be driven by money. We have no confidence that the Minister will implement the required services. There is a need for a debate on the role of secondary hospitals in this country. We have not had that debate. They have an important role, as do tertiary and larger hospitals and the community. We have not had that debate because the Minister will not engage with any stakeholders except the very few who agree with her.

See this speech in context