Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

Yesterday, we had the serious revelation about the continuing strike at our local hospital, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. The HSE is trying to downgrade this hospital because it has let the issue go on for so long. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy Harney, to intervene. There is extraordinary scaremongering going on on behalf of the HSE. The hospital employs over 700 people and the HSE is talking about closing wards and cancelling surgical procedures. We have no other hospital in the Athlone-south Roscommon area.