David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do indeed. My question relates to the Minister for Health's plans to break up the South East Hospital Network. A report was published yesterday by Mr. Jim Power, economist, which details the number of jobs which will be lost if the plan goes ahead. Almost 1,000 jobs will be lost and services such as oncology, trauma medicine, cardiology and neurology could be lost to Waterford Regional Hospital, which will have a negative impact on patients across the south east. I ask the Leader to ascertain whether the Higgins report been presented to the Minister and to ensure that when the report is presented that it is also published without delay. In that way all public representatives, the South East Hospital Action Group and the people of the Waterford and the south east will have an opportunity to study what is being recommended and to influence the decision which will be made. As the Leader knows, at the end of the day the decision will be a political one and it will have profound consequences for the people of Waterford and the South East if it is the wrong one. I am calling on the Leader to make sure that when the Higgins report is given to the Minister, it is published as soon as possible thereafter.