Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I assure the two Deputies opposite who have articulated their strong views that the Minister will be made aware of their points of view. Either the staff are doing their best or they are not and it is clear that the two Deputies are commending the staff and the organisation of the hospital and its capacity to respond, given the difficult situation.

I refer to three significant achievements of the hospital. In 2010, South Tipperary General Hospital was chosen as one of the first implementation centres for the national colon cancer screening programme. It achieved second place in Ireland in the national audit of end of life care standards and it now receives postgraduate medical students from the University of Limerick and from Cork. This identifies the talents and capacity of the staff to deliver the best possible service, given the very trying circumstances under which they work. It is a national recognition of the significant work and the calibre of the staff of the hospital.

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