Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What he stated is clearly at variance with what was stated prior to the last election with regard to small hospitals. Let us be honest about this. If we are talking about genuine reform, establishing hospital trusts and having engagement with the public so that they can have confidence in the services, we should at least be honest with them.

The people of Navan are a case in point. We have already highlighted the issue in Roscommon but we need fundamental trust between the Government and the people in the delivery of services. Unfortunately, there is more rhetoric than reform and nothing is happening other than a reduction in services to the people in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. If there is to be reform and engagement between all political parties, broader society and stakeholders, the Government must be honest in its dealings, but in Navan and the north east there has been a withdrawal of fundamental services, where the 24-hour emergency care has been reduced to 12 hours. The intensive care unit is also being withdrawn, and other services will be withdrawn in a process that will clearly undermine the confidence in the discussion on the issue.

The Government parties campaigned with promises but, being honest, they seem to govern with broken promises week after week.

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