Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed with the Taoiseach's reply. How many front-line service staff does Professor Higgins's group include? The answer is none. The people in the south east are working towards the reconfiguration and the centre of excellence in Waterford Regional Hospital in Ardkeen. This has been the template for the past number of years. Will the Taoiseach allow the Minister for Health to wreck that, put people's lives in danger and put the constituents of different Ministers first? We have seen it recently with the distribution of national lottery funds in Wexford. Is this Government aware of the medical and economic consequences of the proposed realignment of hospital services?

Professor Higgins believes his loyalty is to Cork. He also sees a spin off from South Tipperary General Hospital to Cork if Waterford is gone.

See this speech in context