Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I did not get a chance to come in on the Order of Business yesterday. We were all shocked by the comments and the statement by Deputy Naughten that he will not be going forward as a Deputy in the constituency at the next election. I know he will be with us for the next period of time and we wish him well. I wish to acknowledge the help he was to me when I came in here in 2016 and the work he has done, particularly in regard to Roscommon University Hospital, on which he stuck very much to his beliefs.

I want to raise some very good news. On Monday last, we had the full opening of the hospice unit in Roscommon town for the county of Roscommon. It is a fantastic new €6.3 million, eight-bed unit. The Leader will be well aware of this and I am well aware of the hospice in Castlebar. It is very important to point out that the funding to put those buildings in place came from the people of Roscommon and the people of Mayo - fully from the people on the ground.That needs to be on the public record. Senator Chambers and I were involved and I acknowledge that the Minister gave the funding for staff. About 30 staff members are coming into that hospice now beside the hospital grounds, which is a fantastic development and much needed. I compliment Martina Jennings, the chief executive of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Mike Smith, the local people and all the other people, those on the ground in particular, who have given so much money over a number of years for that much-needed facility.