Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle.

Similar to previous Fianna Fáil Cork leader, senior hurling politics is a game the Tánaiste plays well. First the ball, but if unsuccessful then the player.

This is not about me but it is about a critical life-saving service for 600,000 people with whom the Government is playing politics. Consider for instance that having commissioned the national cardiac review in 2017, seven years later it is still sitting unpublished on the desk of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, or the failure to deliver the required cardiac day ward promised with the cath lab extension, or the recent announcement by the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, of cuts to University Hospital Waterford, UHW, citing elective inefficiency, while having closed down the highly effective Kilcreene surgery unit just six months ago, and having completely cleaved UHW from a cent of last July's €350 million model 4 capital programme. The Tánaiste may wonder why he is not loved in the south east. I ask him to fulfil his promise to deliver 24-7 service to the south east.

On 19 October 2021, during Leaders' Questions, I asked the Tánaiste, who was then Taoiseach, when he envisaged increasing cardiac services in University Hospital Waterford. In raising this question I reminded him of the pre-election promise he made to almost 600,000 people who rely on that model 4 hospital for acute access. In 2016 the Tánaiste stood on the grounds of UHW beside his then council candidate, and now our junior Minister for health, and promised to provide 24-7 cardiac care to the south-east region. That photo and promise had a direct connection to re-establishing a Fianna Fáil seat in Waterford and strengthening Fianna Fáil across the region. The Tánaiste is not a novice politician unaware of how government works. He stood for a photo as a former Minister for Health and as a lifelong student of senior hurling politics. On 19 October 2021, the Tánaiste's answer to me in the House said to the people of the region that he was going to dramatically expand cardiac provision. He has, to a certain extent. After five years of foot-dragging, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, opened the second cath lab last summer. The service has increased from 40 to 60 hours per week, and from 23% of the week recovered to 35%. There are still 108 hours of every week without emergency cardiac care. The Tánaiste's Ministers' recurring promises for a seven-day service have not materialised.

On 7 July, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly announced at UHW that the seven-day service would commence by year end. On 7 December, on morning radio, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, seeing that nothing had advanced, announced that needed recruitment would commence in January and that the seven-day service would be up and running by the end of March. March then bowed out with still nothing progressed and the Minister returned to Damien Tiernan's radio show to announce that recruitment would begin immediately. As these posts had not been advertised, I can only assume that the funding has not been given.

This is a burning issue in the south east. It is an equality issue. People have marched in the streets over this issue. Will the Tánaiste deliver on his promise?

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