Ray Butler (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----stated in an article in the Meath Chronicletwo weeks ago that the accident and emergency services downgrade in Navan never happened and that he regretted this. My late mother spent a lot of time in the accident and emergency department in 2013 and 2014 when she was sick. I saw at first hand why the reconfiguration did not happen and I witnessed the downgrading of the accident and emergency department in Navan. I saw elderly people waiting for taxis and ambulances in order to be brought to the bigger hospitals at Blanchardstown, Drogheda and Cavan from Navan but when they were halfway there, they were sent back because those facilities were overflowing with people and could not cope. We need an accident and emergency department in Navan. The former HSE boss, who is now retired, should keep his mouth closed. Will the Minister come before the House to discuss what we will do with the accident and emergency department in Navan?