Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

Senator Cummins is wasting my time. I refer to Senator O'Meara's list of projects that have not yet opened, of which Birr Hospital is one. As an Offaly woman I can go into Leinster for a while.

Unions have a big role in this. The Labour Party may well grin. Nurses are looking for €4,000 to move from one side of the road to another. It is about time unions were told they had a role to play. I heard only this morning of a consultant who had been told in a midland hospital by the Irish Medical Organisation not to see more than 20 patients per day, this at a time when there are enormous waiting lists. I take my hat off to the Minister on the Kilkenny project, which is excellent. There are a few more good ideas, but I will take these up personally with the Minister.