Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with Deputy Tully's questions. I thank Naomi. In the interests of time, I think the Deputy will have heard my comments in the House earlier but I will revert to Naomi directly too. The Deputy is dead right that services have to be developed in line with policy. This House and the Government set policy. The policy is that there should be more MLUs in Ireland, not fewer. The people responsible for the delivery of the health services need to follow the policy. There was no discussion about the closure of this facility with my Department, and this facility will not be allowed to close, because it is against the wishes of this House, which supports the national maternity strategy. I have made it very clear that I have asked for a full report through the national women and infants health programme. My Department does not support it, they do not support it and the INMO does not support it. I will meet the INMO tomorrow, and specifically midwives from Cavan. I suggest that we have a meeting of Oireachtas Members from Cavan-Monaghan on a cross-party basis next week. I will be in touch with the Deputy about that.

Deputy Martin Browne kindly said that I could respond in writing on the range of issues raised relating to Tipperary, St. Brigid's, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, St. Michael's, Nenagh and Limerick. I will respond in writing about each of those. I need to return to Government with a start date for the CervicalCheck tribunal, but I am happy to share with this House that I would like to see that start around the end of this month. I need a Government decision on a commencement date.

On the issue of playgrounds, I find it somewhat frustrating that nobody in this House raised any concerns about opening golf clubs. In fact, everybody asked me to open more golf clubs quicker and to let people drive across the country to go to a golf club. Everybody is upset about opening a few swings and slides. I think it says a lot about our value system in this country and the lobby group that golf clubs have versus the lobby group that children have. Parents supervise their kids. They do not want the local authority to become mums and dads to their daughters or sons. They just want the local authority to clean the slides and swings, and keep an eye on the place.

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