Independent TD for Waterford Matt Shanahan has branded Taoiseach Micheal Martin as 'a formidable operator' who seems to always 'get his way'.
The comments came during a frosty exchange between Deputy Shanahan and the Fianna Fail leader under Leader's Question in the Dail yesterday.
Deputy Shanahan raised the issue of 24/7 cardiac care for Waterford - criticising the government for their lack of investment in Waterford compared to Cork and Dublin.
Shanahan says that party leaders have walked through walls for their own constituents, while the South East has been left behind.
"I have watched the Government walk through walls to build a hospital that is largely for the people of south Dublin. I have watched the Government parties whip their Deputies furiously to get them to support the national maternity hospital project despite misgivings as to its ultimate ownership. I heard the rationale offered by the Tánaiste, our next Taoiseach, in the debate in this House when he stated the maternity hospital needs to be in Dublin because if a woman has a cardiac arrest she can be in ICU within 20 minutes. The Hippocratic oath extends to the people of Waterford and the south-east also."
He challenged the Taoiseach on promises made in the past, conceding that 24/7 cardiac care for the South East will not be a reality when Mr. Martin vacates the Office of Taoiseach in December.
"Over the past two years I have seen the Taoiseach in action. I would say he is a formidable operator. He gets his way. He can build a new runway in Cork in less than six months from a standing start. He can green-light the Dunkettle interchange. He is certainly a man of his word to his electorate and the people of Cork. On behalf of my electorate and the people I represent, I need a simple "Yes" or "No" answer from the Taoiseach today. Will he keep his promise to the people of Waterford and the south east? Will a 24-7 emergency cardiac care service be in place when he leaves the Taoiseach's office in December?"
In response, Mr. Martin praised Deputy Shanahan for his consistency in raising issues regarding University Hospital Waterford - but argued that the government have committed money toward UHW despite claims to the contrary.
"All consultant cardiology posts are currently filled in the hospital. There is an issue with the recruitment of an additional registrar to support the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday service. That position is being recruited as a matter of urgency. A total of 24 whole-time equivalents were approved by the South/South West Hospital Group in November 2021 for the staffing of the second cath lab, which is a significant commitment to the undertakings we gave the Deputies and representatives of the south east. We are awaiting the presentation and publication of the national review of specialist cardiac services. The overall budget of the hospital has increased by about €60 million since January 2020, which is a 20% increase and a significant commitment to University Hospital Waterford."
The Taoiseach noted that a report is expected in the coming weeks, which will go a long way in determining future capital investments and capacity requirements at the Waterford Hospital.
I accept the Deputy's point about timely care and that having the right care at the right time in the right place is critical. More generally, we want to develop further services at University Hospital Waterford in addition to the second cath lab. In terms of the capital programmes, in particular, as the Deputy knows, a report is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. That review has been strategically examining the current and future capacity requirements of University Hospital Waterford to ensure that proper planning is in place for the next 15 years to invest in the hospital. The South/South West Hospital Group will work with HSE estates to make the relevant capital submissions for new developments that are required at the hospital. HSE estates has confirmed that a submission will be made at the capital steering committee for the development of additional bed capacity for the hospital. There has been significant investment across Waterford but I do not have time to go into that now."
Mr. Shanahan then accused the Taoiseach of dodging the question, with the exchange continuing back and forth.
"I was hoping for a "Yes" or "No" answer but I understand that the Taoiseach feels he cannot give it. With the additional money put into University Hospital Waterford, it still remains the most underfunded of nine model 4 hospitals in the country. That is the first issue. Second, the Taoiseach talked about the provision of additional services to the cardiac care suite. What he is offering us is an aeroplane with no pilots, baggage people or transportation on the ground to operate it. Without the people, we cannot operate it."
You can watch the full exchange at the link below.
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