Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am the only Deputy who mentioned the relevant legislation and the Ceann Comhairle decided to stop me. The rest of them were not stopped. They talked about Syria, wildcat strikes and everything else. The programme for Government contains a commitment under the Health (Amendment) Act to provide safe places of access for people who are sick. The accident and emergency unit in Clonmel is not suitable. It is a crisis day in and day out. The Minister, Deputy Harris, has announced a mini-tender, aided and abetted by Deputy Lowry, so that they would have hotel accommodation there.

I now find in a reply from the Minister to a parliamentary question that the mini-tender process is not even complete. It will be a year after that before any effort will be made to have proper accommodation for patients in South Tipperary, West Waterford and beyond. It is a disgraceful situation and something needs to be done before lives are lost, although hospital staff are doing their best in appalling conditions.

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