Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Minister every success in the coming months and years. He will have my full support in everything he does because the health service is so important to us. We have seen during the Covid crisis just how important it has been. I pay tribute to the front-line staff who have delivered huge resources and have worked extremely hard. My sympathies go out to the families of the more than 1,700 people who have passed away.

I am from the constituency comprising Sligo, Leitrim, north Roscommon and south Donegal. Nine years ago, we had an issue in Roscommon University Hospital with the downgrading of the emergency department. It generated a lot of media coverage locally, nationally and probably internationally. I invite the Minister to Roscommon University Hospital to see what a great hospital it is now. It is a state-of-the-art hospital. It is a shining light of the small hospitals throughout the country. Management, the HSE, the Department of Health and staff are working together. It is a safe hospital. It is twice as busy and, with the air ambulance and advanced paramedics, it has saved hundreds of lives. I invite the Minister to see the great news that has happened in the past nine years. The endoscopy unit is up and running and the Mayo and Roscommon hospice is being built beside it. I want the rehabilitation unit for the west of Ireland, which will be a step down facility from the facility in Dún Laoghaire, progressed as quickly as possible. The Minister is very welcome to come and see the hospital. The only problem with it now is that it is so busy there is no car parking. Perhaps some could be built.

There is another issue in Sligo University Hospital. One year ago, we had the national cardiac review and we are expecting an update. When is it coming? We need to see the new cardiac cath lab in the north-west placed in the hospital. I would also like updates on the issue of the north west hospice and the new medical block at Sligo University Hospital. When the Minister comes to the north west, after the Covid crisis is over, I want him to visit the hospital and meet the management and staff. It is vital that he does a tour of these two hospitals.

Last week, I raised with the former Minister, Deputy Harris, the issue of adopting a common sense approach to allow churches to reopen. They have worked extremely hard and brought out advice and proposed new measures. I understand there will be meetings with the Minister and church leaders in the coming days, although some may have already taken place. I would like an update on this. We need a common sense approach to the bigger churches in the larger towns that can accommodate 1,500 to 2,000 people. They are prepared to work with the Minister. They understand the implications of the Covid health crisis. We need a common sense approach.

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