Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I will finish now and I thank the Chair for his indulgence. To date, no one in the HSE has produced evidence to show that the outcomes for patients from the north west region attending Sligo General Hospital will be improved by moving their care from a hospital that has outcomes that are better than, or at least comparable to, the best in the United States, which is the benchmark country for the entire world.

I will support the amendment to the motion. I have made it clear on many occasions in the past that I believe it is highly disingenuous of Fine Gael to come up with a motion purporting to be all things to all geographical parts. There is a case for an adjustment for one location in the north west region and that is the reason I will vote against the motion.