Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

In response to Senator Twomey, the information in the Minister for Health and Children's reply, which I read, was confirmed to me directly by the HSE when I pursued the issue of the accident and emergency department in Wexford General Hospital. In a number of regions the HSE is considering - the process has started in the south east - the reconfiguration of acute services. I was clearly told by the HSE that this matter would probably not emerge until the end of this year or early next year and that there would be much consultation in the meantime. It would be alarming if we as politicians got such information from the HSE while something else is happening.

I will not accuse Senator Twomey of this, but his constituency colleague in the Dáil has raised the matter of Wexford General Hospital in the run-up to a number of national and local elections. We must be careful not to make a political football out of the issue because it would not be in the interests of the hospital.