David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the second cath lab. It is a fantastic development and real progress for cardiac services in Waterford and the south east. It was one of those issues on which all Oireachtas Members in Waterford campaigned very hard over a long number of years, and indeed colleagues who are no longer in the House. I commend everyone involved in that. It is also real progress that we will get to a point where we have a seven day a week service from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. for emergency cardiac care. That is real progress and should be acknowledged, celebrated and warmly welcomed.

I am aware of the level of additional staffing capacity that was required to make that happen but obviously the next question is whether we can transition to a full 24-7 service. I believe that the answer to this question will lie in the national review. This review has been sitting somewhere for a long time. I do not know how many times I have asked the question on it. We really need to get an update on when that review will be published. I imagine that will answer the question as to what is next for University Hospital Waterford.

See this speech in context