Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Smith. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Smith, can make progress with the issue I am raising if he is not moved in next week's reshuffle. The Mercy Hospital is one of the most important hospitals in Cork. The Government and the HSE provided funding of €5 million for an accident and emergency department at the hospital which remains idle. Last week, the chief executive and the board of the hospital were forced to go public about the fact that they do not have enough funding to staff the department. They have decided to open the department from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only. The Minister of State will agree that the shortfall in funding is not good enough. The new accident and emergency department unit at the Mercy Hospital is lying idle as a result of the inexcusable delay in arranging a meeting between the HSE, the Department of Health and Children and the board of the hospital.

This is unfair to the people of Cork and to the patients who are suffering. They are again being forced to endure a second-class service. What this means in real terms is that between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. we will send 10,000 people to the accident and emergency department of Cork University Hospital, the second busiest hospital in Cork. The hospital deals with 25,000 patients and allowing for 40% of these to present after 8 p.m. gives a total of approximately 10,000 people.

It is time that the Mercy Hospital, which has given great service to the city, receives recognition. It is not good enough that it took the board and chief executive of the Mercy Hospital to go public with this dilemma to obtain a meeting with the HSE. Meetings and promises have been postponed. This issue involves at most 24 full-time staff and must be resolved. It is time the Department of Health and Children and the HSE took responsibility. This is about commitment to the people of Cork and the Mercy Hospital.

It is almost the end of April and a new Taoiseach is about to take office and select a new Cabinet. However, the same problem pertaining to the Mercy Hospital remains. The Minister of State will reply that the Mercy Hospital is over budget, or whatever is the line from the HSE. I am sure Professor Drumm is a very good surgeon and consultant. However, his management of the Health Service Executive leaves many questions to be answered.

We are not talking about a Third World country. Cork is Ireland's largest county and second largest city. Its people are left with a second-class service despite having a brand new €5 million service facility waiting to be used. This is not good enough. I look forward to the reply of the Minister of State.