Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

-----not allow it to remain open. I have stayed in government to ensure patient safety and the hospital's future. All I ask is that, in a year's time, people driving by the hospital will recognise what happened.

I appreciate Deputy Donnelly's comments, in that, if a mistake is made, one should put one's hands up and row back. This is not a question of admitting defeat, but of doing the right thing. Through the Social Welfare Bill, we are trying to do the right thing, including returning people to work. I do not agree with some of its provisions, but we must do the right thing.

An Independent colleague has castigated me for nine months and called me a liar, which is a word that cannot be used in the Chamber, a traitor and a coward. Everything I have done in that time I have done in the interests of the people of my constituency. In terms of turf cutting, I stated that I would write my name in blood. We have since delivered for turf cutters. Hundreds, if not thousands, of them will get €1,000 per year for the next 15 years thanks to the agreement we signed.

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