James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The answer is clear to Deputies on this side. Legislation is not planned because a loan scheme will not be made available to business.

If I may, I will inquire about a second area of legislation. As we enter the busiest time of year in terms of demand on our hospitals and health services, we learn that the Health Service Executive will close 28 beds in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan from next Monday. One ward with 15 beds is closing, as is a surgical ward with 13 beds. At the same time, the HSE has announced the cancellation until next Friday at the earliest of outpatient clinics and non-emergency operations in Cavan General Hospital. It was also confirmed yesterday that three patients are being treated for the potentially fatally Clostridium difficile at Our Lady's Hospital in Drogheda. This has clearly arisen as a result of overcrowding. The hospital system in Dublin North and Dublin North-East cannot cope with these additional closures.

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