Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I extend my sympathy to the family of Mrs. Coburn. I reiterate what the Minister said that the management of the case was unacceptable and the hospital has apologised. When addressing the media this morning, the clinical director said the hospital was working to reduce delays in admission times through the emergency department and also noted that the new oncology assessment unit to open in UCHG in mid-August would provide direct access for cancer patients and appropriate and timely treatment for patients referred to the hospital by other consultants.

On section 6 which addresses concerns about the future use of the site by explicitly requiring the consent of the Minister for any disposal of the land, on Committee Stage in the Dáil the Minister stated she would reflect on the concerns raised about the use of the St. Luke's Hospital site for the provision of public health facilities. Accordingly, she proposed an amendment which was accepted. As a result, the Bill provides that the site must be used by the HSE for health care purposes.

It is the Minister's view that amendment No. 1 tabled by Senator Fitzgerald would not be an appropriate way to address the concerns expressed or provide any guarantees about the future use of the St. Luke's Hospital site. It would lead to an unwieldy decision-making process and not provide certainty about the future use of the hospital site.

On amendment No. 2, the Minister does not consider it appropriate that the use of the site be restricted to a specific aspect of health care such as cancer care services, as proposed. The board of the hospital, in conjunction with the Friends of St. Luke's, has commissioned a report on the best use of the facility. Until the report is received and there is an opportunity to engage with the various parties involved, the Minister does not believe it would be appropriate to be prescriptive in the legislation.