Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I understand the environment (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is due before the House this session. There is no date for the previous Bill mentioned by the Deputy. His opening remarks on it concerned a baseline study to establish what work was required to create a centre of excellence in that location and in seven others. Previously, there were no centres of excellence in 41 different locations. I am glad to say that those who are directing operations have indicated that this should be the case by the end of the year. It is not a question of it being a centre of excellence or not, but of identifying in a baseline study what would be required to reach the standard and now being in the process of creating it. It is called reform in the health service. We cannot have it every way.

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