Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

The day I raised it I asked that the Minister should come to this House to tell us what the Government was doing. I welcome the Minister to the House. He has outlined clearly in his speech what the Government has been doing in this and the previous term of office. There has been greater processing of patients through our hospitals as a result of investment. The Minister has acknowledged that issues remain to be resolved. Many new hospitals have been built and many more have been refurbished. I am often angered by the comments of other public representatives from Dublin West in the context of James Connolly Memorial Hospital. I was the only councillor among eight who voted for the rezoning of lands at that hospital when it was being promoted in the 1990s as a hospital for future investment on a pound for pound basis with Government. The councillors who voted against the proposal now cry crocodile tears. However, they did not make the hard decisions necessary at the time.