Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was hoping for a "Yes" or "No" answer but I understand that the Taoiseach feels he cannot give it. With the additional money put into University Hospital Waterford, it still remains the most underfunded of nine model 4 hospitals in the country. That is the first issue. Second, the Taoiseach talked about the provision of additional services to the cardiac care suite. What he is offering us is an aeroplane with no pilots, baggage people or transportation on the ground to operate it. Without the people, we cannot operate it.

We need a 24-7 service, which the Taoiseach and his party committed to in 2016. The lack of care, attention and interest in following up on this promise over the years is quite evident now. The people of the south east will have their say. Either the service will be in place in December and the Taoiseach's word will have demonstrated its worth or it will not. I apologise to him for saying that but I have to keep the promises I made to fight for this vital service.

We are past reviews. We had 134 blue-light transfers over three years. Not one of them could get out of Waterford to Cork in under three and a quarter hours. It is no longer a clinical case. It is a political decision. It is up to the Government to either follow through on what it promised to do or else not follow through and leave it to the electorate to decide how it appreciates and takes that.

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