Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

It is regrettable that despite the reform of the Dáil we only have one minute each to speak.

Can the Minister of State explain why the HIQA, having carried out a report and sought certain changes which were made, recommended the closure of the hospital? It is inexplicable that millions of euro have been spent on the facility over the past year and it will be closed on a whim. I do not have a difficulty defending hard decisions but in this case it is very difficult to support the statutory body, given the manner in which it has behaved and wasted money.

With regard to staff and relatives hearing of the closure through the media, I understand the HSE briefed some unions and one put the information into the public domain early on Monday morning having been briefed on Sunday night. I would like the Minister of State to confirm if that is the case. If it is, the HSE should consider how it conveys information. It should not brief unions in future. As a public representative in the area I was not briefed.

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