Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Government decided to proceed with the project on the Mater Hospital site last July after reviewing it. The concept behind the critical infrastructure Act is to remove the uncertainties, whereby one might lose a very good project owing to a practicality, and make it possible to interact with An Bord Pleanála, rather than simply applying and receiving a "Yes" or a "No" answer.

I urge the Tánaiste to give serious consideration to the proposal I have made. If there ever was a piece of critical infrastructure that was necessary and should not be held up by minor issues, this is it. The matter should be resolved through discussion with An Bord Pleanála, but this cannot occur under the current arrangement; however, it could be by acting on my suggestion. It would also avoid having to go back to the local authority. Will the Tánaiste give urgent consideration to this proposal today and, perhaps, returning to the House tomorrow with real legislation which we will agree to pass to make a minor, one line amendment to the critical infrastructure Act to facilitate the hospital being defined as critical infrastructure to ensure a speedy decision? This would ensure the children of Ireland would have the hospital within the agreed timeframe of 2015-16, as promised.

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