Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

There are many in County Roscommon who would like to have the opportunity I have today to put a few questions to the Minister. Does the Minister feel any sense of shame or embarrassment that he misled the people of Roscommon before the general election of 2011? He gave a clear unambiguous commitment as a senior qualified doctor, former president of the IMO, that the accident and emergency department in Roscommon hospital was safe and if it was closed he would reopen it and would keep acute surgery and acute medicine. They have all gone and the hospital is down to a skeleton service. Is the endoscopy unit promised by the Minister and one Fine Gael Deputy at a cost of €1.9 million going ahead? Can the Minister confirm whether six nurses are leaving the old accident and emergency section, now called the medical urgent care centre? Will they be replaced? It is vital that staff in a small hospital are replaced and it should be a priority to replace those that avail of the early retirement package. The Minister mentioned in his speech that he will review the matter at the end of February. It is important that we hold on to what we have and develop it.

Has the Minister made a decision on the provision of a helicopter service for emergency cases, or an "eye in the sky", that will be based at Roscommon County Hospital? He has received a submission on it and I would like to hear his views.