Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this important debate. The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 provides for the dissolution of St. Luke's Hospital board and the transfer of its employees, assets and liabilities to the HSE. The dissolution, I am told, arises from the national plan for radiation oncology, under which there are to be four radiation oncology centres, two in Dublin, one in Cork and one in Galway, and two satellite centres in Waterford and Limerick. I am also advised that the Bill provides for the amendment of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, the Health Act 2007, the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. It also repeals section 44 of the Health Act 1947 and section 36(2) of the Health Act 1953.

I have listened carefully to the last two speakers and I compliment them on their contributions. I head Deputy O'Sullivan comment on calm and peace in regard to hospitals. In fairness, Deputy Quinn made the same point regarding St. Luke's. I am glad that we are now in the calm and peace of Thursday afternoon in the Dáil. One of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's colleagues said recently that if the Dáil reaches Thursday it is a good week. We had an interesting morning and I am glad we are now much more peaceful and calm.

I have a lot of sympathy with the point made by Deputy Quinn regarding the role of St. Luke's and other hospitals. I am from a bygone Dublin age. I was born around these parts. I lived on the corner of St. Stephen's Street and George's Street. There were many hospitals-----

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