Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I join her in congratulating Mr. Trevor O'Callaghan, who employs 777 people at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar. The staff of the hospital provide an excellent service. It is the second or third best hospital in the country on the basis of its efficiency and its standards. Long may that continue. I know the Minister for Health and Children appreciates the achievements of the Midland Regional Hospital. I am proud to be from the area, to say this is my hospital and to point to the results being achieved by Mr. O'Callaghan and his team.

Senator Ó Domhnaill spoke about the state of the roads. I am surprised this topic was mentioned by just one Senator in the House. Over the past five or six weeks, it has been the most pressing problem we have faced. I compliment Senator Ó Domhnaill on bringing it to the attention of the House. The National Roads Authority has a serious duty. I will contact the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, in advance of his visit to the House next week to see what can be done to ensure this matter is debated and discussed in the House. The winters are becoming more difficult. The weather is very difficult, to say the least of it. Our roads are being damaged by the severe frost and by temperatures of as low as -15°, the likes of which we have never seen in our lifetimes. It is a new challenge. I fully agree with Senator Ó Domhnaill's request that additional funding must be made available to local authorities for national primary and secondary roads. I support the Senator's call for the Minister for Transport to come to the House to tell Members what he will do to meet the new challenges of recent months, which are being faced by local authorities and by public representatives, who are answerable to the public.