Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

As the Taoiseach knows, one of the most important issues in west Dublin is the services offered by the James Connolly Hospital. This morning I visited it to discuss the situation with staff and management. The local community rely on the hospital and the status of the promises and commitment that are now being made and handed out by Fine Gael and Labour public representatives is of major concern to them. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Leo Varadkar said last week, "The retained level of service in Connolly A&E is of enormous importance to the Dublin West community and I welcome the assurances that this service will be retained". Two weeks ago Deputy Reilly brought cameras with him to open a unit, which had been up and running and operating for the past year and a half. This was pitched as a sign of his great commitment to the hospital but in reality it was a cheap by-election photoshoot.

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