Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I refer to health matters, concerning community nursing units. I attended a meeting in my constituency on Friday night, attended by more than 600 people about the potential closure of Lifford community hospital. The Minister for Health has earmarked 850 beds across the community hospitals for closure. I commend Senator Mary White on the work she has done in representing the needs of older people and the meetings she is attending on this issue. The Minister for Health is distorting the figures, saying the private nursing units are more cost effective than public nursing units. He is not comparing like with like. There are 11 public nursing units in County Donegal and they are working at 70% capacity because of the moratorium on recruitment and because of HIQA. The Department is not willing to make the capital investment required to meet HIQA standards. We need an urgent debate on this issue before community hospitals close. Ultimately, it will be a decision for the Minister for Health and we must inform him that people of Lifford and other areas will not accept their hospitals being closed. I appeal to the Leader to ask the Minister for Health to come to the House today or tomorrow. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business in that regard and I hope the Leader will facilitate the Minister for Health coming to the House today.