James Bannon (Fine Gael)

The future of Mullingar hospital was supposedly assured under phase 2B of the midlands regional health plan. Confirmation that the development would go ahead was issued despite recommendations in the Hanly report. This is done left, right and centre. There is a hospital action group in Mullingar like those which exist throughout the country but not one member of Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats had the guts to turn up at any of its meetings to tell the truth to the people of Longford and Westmeath.