Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is correct. If I believed that the draft plan and the consultation had been appropriate then we surely would not be in this place. I do not believe the consultation was adequate and I do not believe there was appropriate engagement. The reason I do not believe it is because the people of Portlaoise are telling me this very clearly. Deputy Stanley, Deputy Sean Fleming and the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, are also telling me this. The Laois Oireachtas Members, on a cross-party basis, have told me this very clearly.

I understand Deputy Stanley's desire, and that of the people in the midlands, for a decision to be made on the consultation as quickly as possible. I want to deliver it as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of getting it wrong. I want to make sure. One can have consultation and one can have real, meaningful consultation and engagement. I am trying to work out a mechanism whereby the people of the midlands, the people of Portlaoise, the clinicians, the stakeholders and the public can have their say and their views heard and can tease out and stress-test all the important issues. The issue of capacity, as referred to by the Taoiseach, is also very important. We are aware that the other hospitals, as mentioned by Deputy Stanley, do not have adequate capacity currently.

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