James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I ask the Minister to forgive me for smiling earlier but Deputy Dooley appeared to be having a minor "Paul Gogarty moment" behind her.

I do not intend to reopen the mid-west issue. It is quite clear from the Teamwork report that certain continuances were to be put in place prior to the services being moved. This has not been done. With regard to recruiting consultants, the Minister pointed out that this takes many months, if not years. They will not be in place this year. However, the Minister is quite happy to fire everybody up to the accident and emergency department in Limerick which has not been upgraded in the way the Minister said it would be. The critical care unit there, which will be needed, is not in place and the extra beds are not in place.

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