Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, in short I would welcome a proposal from the mid-west in respect of an elective-only hospital. In the health service generally, capital projects are moving too slowly. The elective process has gone on for five or six years through different working parties, in addition to people, consultants and administrators having different views. The Government has taken a decision to press ahead with elective-only hospitals for Cork, Galway and, latterly, Dublin. My advice to the Deputy is to look at State-owned land and to come up with a very clear focus for the region. We will then go after it and get it done.

See this speech in context