Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I am sorry I do not have enough time to go through the issues. However, I reject the Minister's efforts and those of Professor Drumm and other Ministers and colleagues. They are trying to induce a guilt trip in public representatives and local communities when they suggest we are irresponsible in seeking the retention of services at Sligo and Mayo. In the motion we are calling for safe facilities and services and satellite units linked to the Galway centre.

However, this is nothing new from the Minister and this Government. They have consistently argued for centralisation of hospital care and have implemented it in a number of cases. This is far removed from reality. When there is centralisation, people die or they accept inferior treatment because they and their families have to travel shorter distances. The Minister talks about Professor Keane as if he is a person who knows everything but Professor Keane is only implementing——