Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Taoiseach stated that in the Government's first 100 days a satellite facility would be restored at Sligo General Hospital. I refer him to the Private Members' motion to which he spoke in the House a number of months ago regarding the retention of services in local hospitals. That was when he was in opposition. In February he said, "My only focus is on election day." It is very clear that is one promise the people could actually believe. No one forced the Taoiseach to make direct and solemn promises to the communities concerned, but he did so because his only concern was to win votes. Nothing has changed in the past three months to justify his breaking of these promises. The only difference is the Department has spent €40 million less than that budgeted for and that the deputy leader of Fine Gael is personally in charge of the HSE.

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