David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to the 15,000 people from the south east who marched over the weekend in defence of Waterford Regional Hospital and services at the hospital. There were a number of meetings today between Oireachtas Members, consultants and clinical directors across the south east, the Minister for Health and the Secretary General at the Department of Health. It is very clear opposite views are being expressed by all parties. The Minister and the Secretary General said Waterford Regional Hospital will not be in any way downgraded and that tertiary services, such as cancer care, cardiology and trauma, will not be affected by changes which will, effectively, break up the region, yet people who work in the hospital and in other hospitals in the region, including a cardiologist in Wexford and consultants and others who work in Waterford Regional Hospital, are saying that is not true.

In that environment, I am sure the Leader would agree that the best thing to happen would be for the Higgins report to be published in order that we can all see exactly what is in it and make up our own minds about how all of this will play out for the patients of the south east. We all want to ensure that at the end of this process, we get the best structure for the people of the south east and not just Waterford. Given that opposite views are being expressed by people who work in those hospitals and by the Minister for Health and the Secretary General, it only adds weight to the view that the report should be published.