Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Freedom of information does not appear to be required when documents and reports are being leaked prematurely from the task force on medical staffing. Will the Leader of the House give a commitment that when the report is published, it will be brought before the House and the Minister will be invited to the House to discuss it? It is causing great concern. The leaked report, published in today's Irish Independent, indicates that some hospitals will be downgraded. This is causing unnecessary anxiety to staff and patients, particularly in hospitals such as Roscommon County Hospital where €8 million is being spent on the development of an accident and emergency department. Other developments are on stream as part of the major development of the hospital.

The same applies to Portiuncula Hospital which the Western Health Board bought in 2001 for €14 million. I was chairman of the board at the time. It is obvious that the Government will not buy a hospital for €14 million and then decide to remove some of its services. That would be ludicrous. I am amazed that these reports—