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

The Deputy referenced my geographic origins earlier. I did acquire that land for Waterford Institute of Technology back in the late 1990s. This was the land that made all the development on the campus possible in Carriganore. At the time, a lot of people questioned the wisdom of that but in the long term, it proved to be a fairly far-sighted measure that facilitated the expansion of the university, which is key to economic growth. Why do I say this? Employment in the south east has grown by 8.6% in the past year. There are now 79 IDA Ireland companies employing approximately 15,000 people. A number of significant investments were made. I do not think this is separate from the investment in the college.

Likewise in terms of healthcare facilities, the Deputy is correct that this is very important. The Minister for Health has pushed strongly for the completion of the second cardiac cath lab because, again, that is key to the ultimate objective set by the Deputy. We need to get that project physically completed and staffed, and we need to get additional beds into the hospital and additional recovery beds in respect of that second cath lab.

See this speech in context