James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I remind the Minister what I and Deputy Creighton have already told the House her words to me when I said I would table an amendment on Report Stage to have any review of services or new plans for St. Luke's Hospital brought before the committee by the Minister. This would allow Members to have their say and act on the basis of full information. The Minister told me she was happy to agree to my suggestion. I regret the Minister of State's belief that my amendment would serve no purpose. It sets out its purpose clearly. There is no benefit in reiterating it if the Minister chooses not to hear it.

The Minister of State also said that he had never known the Minister to renege on her word. Unfortunately, that does not fit with reality. The cervical cancer vaccine and the cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's which we were promised would be built this year were not delivered. There was a co-located hospital policy that was to fast-track 1,100 beds into the system five years ago which it still to give us a bed, have a sod turned or a brick put in place. I understood we had agreement on this. I know the Minister agreed to it because it is on the record of the House for the Select Committee on Health and Children. I can do little other than remind her what she said. I can only appeal to her to see the benefit of what we proposed, namely, to allow the people to have their say in any future review of the services, buildings and plans for St. Luke's Hospital.

I fully subscribe to the Labour Party amendment. It was defeated at the Select Committee on Health and Children. This is a compromise which I again remind the Minister she agreed to at the meeting. I can only lay my case before the House and let others be the judge.

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