Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not have much to add to what I have already said. I do not wish this to be interpreted as a rebuff in any sense to the Senator, but absolute guarantees for anything in the future are not attainable. There is no absolute way of looking into the future and knowing precisely how things will be five, ten or 15 years hence. The hospital in Waterford should, and does, have confidence that it will be a hugely important part of the delivery of health care in this country. Waterford is entitled to have that confidence for the future. However, nobody can have absolute certainty as to precisely what future patient movements or pathways will be, not just in the case of Waterford but with regard to anything we are doing in the reorganisation across the country. The way to deal with it, as the people in Waterford have dealt with it, is to put safeguards in place - in some cases one could call them guarantees - which means strong foundations that will be there into the future. They have been put in place and that is the guarantee, coupled with the sense of confidence and excellence that Waterford Regional Hospital will continue to provide. That is as close as one can get to guarantees.