Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I invite the Minister to go back and read her statement and those of her predecessors about an MRI scanner at Monaghan hospital and several other issues. She is right. There have been staff increases in Monaghan hospital and services have increased in terms of provision. Every single one required a sustained campaign to force the Department and the HSE to see logic. When it came to the minor injuries unit when Monaghan hospital was operating at the lowest operating hours anywhere in the State, we had to fight tooth and nail to get the same operating hours as everyone else. The then Minister said the exact same as the Minister is saying today. When it came to the MRI scanner, I put down questions to Ministers countless times and they gave the exact same answer as the Minister is giving with regard to a CT scanner yet eventually the logic has become apparent and an MRI scanner will be provided. That is the result of pressure put on the Department and the HSE. The Government should cut out the middle man, cut out the messing and deliver. It should carry out a feasibility study on a CT scanner for Monaghan hospital because it is what the county deserves.

See this speech in context