Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the Deputy is aware but I want to inform the House more broadly. The other lab will provide elective services five days a week and the two labs together will protect better against both emergencies and elective issues. That is a major step in what the Deputy correctly acknowledges is a long-standing need.

With regard to 24-hour care, I am very open to providing the best care possible. I want to see what is in the cardiac review and to make sure we have the resources there, but I also want to ensure they are doing enough procedures to ensure that patient safety is encompassed within that. I am keen to work with the Deputy on delivering both of those things as we move to that point, while recognising that enough procedures must be happening all of the time to ensure it is a safe place to do that.

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