Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for her reply on behalf of the Minister for Health. There seems to be some watering down of the requirement that there would be capacity elsewhere to deal with patients who would otherwise be in Navan. The Minister's reply referred to a significant improvement in the performance of the emergency department in Drogheda and estimated that it would be at least six months before any changes could be effected. I do not believe that is in line with the HIQA report, which talks about the extra capacity, nor is it very fair for the Minister to repeat this statement that there is at least six months left for the accident and emergency department. I agree the focus should be on what hospitals can do and I am glad the reply contained no express threat to the orthopaedic services.