Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

It was welcomed by all, both at local and national levels. However, what has happened in the interim? The Hanly proposals now encroach and we are to have downgrading. We have been told by local politicians in the heat of the election campaign that the hospital will not be closed. Nobody, including Mr. Hanly, ever said it would be closed but we are to have downgrading and the Minister of State seems to believe this is necessary because he is nodding in agreement with me.