Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power and his officials to the House and thank them for attending at short notice. Along with Senator Brian Hayes and my colleague, Senator O'Brien, I raised this matter on the Order of Business yesterday and I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to hear the contributions today.

I regret that time is limited but I am pleased to have time to comment on the ongoing difficulties in respect of Monaghan General Hospital. I offer my sincere sympathies to the family of the late Mr. Patrick Walsh. No words of mine or of anyone else will bring that poor man back to life.

The Tánaiste has employed the services of an eminent consultant surgeon from Northern Ireland to investigate this sad saga. The Minister of State has clearly stated to the House that answers will be given and will be made public, that there will be no cover-up and no opportunity for anyone to pass the buck. I welcome these initiatives.

As I stated on the Order of Business yesterday, none of us is a medical expert. I was not present in the hospital when this sad event occurred nor was I speaking to anybody who was present. I regret the investigation by the eminent consultant will take eight weeks to conclude but I am willing to wait for eight weeks in the knowledge that action will be taken on foot of his conclusions.

I want answers to questions such as the reason it was necessary to move the late Mr. Walsh from the hospital in Drogheda so soon after his hip operation. Why was his ailment not diagnosed and, when diagnosed, why was the fact that beds were available in Cavan General Hospital, in Drogheda and in Beaumont Hospital not known? Both the general public and I want answers to those questions.

On a number of occasions in this House, Senator O'Brien and I have raised the matter of the need to expand the surgical services at Monaghan General Hospital. The people serviced by Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan General Hospital deserve to have adequate and efficient facilities provided for them.

Both hospitals have been under sustained pressure in the past number of years. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the staff in both hospitals who work under very difficult circumstances. I welcome the recent announcement by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, of 25 additional beds to be provided in Cavan General Hospital. I welcome the announcement that an additional operating theatre and additional beds will be provided in Monaghan General Hospital along with the refurbishment of some wards.

However, Senator O'Brien and I and the people of Cavan and Monaghan want a clear statement on the future of Monaghan General Hospital. I do not expect the Minister of State to provide such a statement today at such short notice, but we will be seeking a general debate in the near future on hospital services in the north eastern region, particularly in Cavan and Monaghan.

Senator O'Brien was instrumental in organising a meeting last Friday between the Monaghan Hospital Alliance and the Taoiseach. I understand from some representatives of the alliance that they were happy with the meeting. It is tragic that before the Taoiseach left Monaghan Mr. Patrick Joseph Walsh passed away.

I am willing to wait eight weeks before I start passing judgment or making remarks. However, after the eight week period, I want answers. I express my sincere sympathy to the family of the late Mr. Walsh. None of us can bring him back but hopefully his death will not be in vain and we will be able to get this situation sorted out. I also want to thank my colleagues in the House for their balanced comments on this sad episode.