David Cullinane

We would love answers.

Yes, we do.

Hold the Government to account.

He will only deal at Dáil times.

End of stroke politics.

End of stroke politics.

Deflection again.

Hear, hear.

I again raise with the Taoiseach - I raised this issue with the Tánaiste a number of weeks ago - the need to provide the funding for the runway extension at Waterford Airport. I have raised it several times with the Taoiseach over the past number of years. I spoke to a member of the airport board this morning, who told me there has been no contact between the Minister or Minister of State and the …

64. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when she will publish the review of specialist cardiac services; when she will publish a comprehensive cardiovascular health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10077/25]

Will the Minister outline when the national review of cardiac services conducted by Professor Nolan and his team will be published? I sat in a meeting in 2019, when Deputy Simon Harris was the Minister for Health, with Oireachtas Members from across the south-east and at that point, that review had been commissioned. Here we are, in 2025, and it still has not been published. It was sitting on the …

The problem is that I have been told that on at least three occasions. I know the report was with the previous Minister for Health for most of last year. Deputy Carroll MacNeill is a new Minister coming in but there is continuity in that this report has been sitting on the Department's desk. It is not going to be the new national cardiovascular strategy because that strategy has to look at prevent…

Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste previously said several times in this House that, in principle, they support 24-7 cardiac services for the south east. In fact, the current Taoiseach stood behind a banner essentially saying that his party would deliver the 24-7 cardiac service. I know that is going to require additional resources and additional consultants but we need a policy decision. I am as…

I am aware of that.

66. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she has ensured that plans are in place to safely and appropriately staff the new children’s hospital to ensure there are no delays following handover from the contractor and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10078/25]

This question concerns the new national children's hospital and the preparedness of the State, the Government and CHI for what will be a decanting of staff from three hospitals into the new children's hospital. People want to be assured that the June deadline for completion will be met but also that the Minister and the Government are on top of the project, the contractor, the board and the handov…

I very much hope it is a case of 15th time lucky regarding that commitment and we see it handed over in June. I have a letter from 12 surgeons who work in the department of paediatric surgery, which I raised previously with the Government. In it, they talk about how the national model of care for paediatric surgery clearly outlines the need for 17 paediatric surgeons by 2028. It goes on to say, "w…

If we do not have enough paediatric surgeon consultants, it creates problems. The Minister knows we have the ongoing Nayagam review and the review by HIQA into the use of springs. There was a media report this week of an audit that was commenced in April of last year conducted by an NHS consultant on the back of very serious allegations made by whistleblowers, including that operations on children…

If there is a draft report, the Minister should have seen it and she should be asking for it.

I echo the points made by my colleague. I visited with him a GP centre in Tallow, County Waterford. It has an application in for funding because the practice is too small and the space in the centre is not fit for purpose. We could see that ourselves when we visited. There is a need to progress funding for it. The same is true of the Cappoquin health centre. I got a phone call from the lead GP the…

Will the Minister have a look at the one in Cappoquin?

It is over a year since we visited Lismore, so it is urgent.

It has not gone away.

The cost-of-living crisis has not gone away; far from it. Workers and families are still finding it very difficult to make ends meet. People face extortionate bills and prices right across the board and for many, it is never-ending. It is runaway rents, childcare fees that equate to the cost of a second mortgage, the cost of the weekly shop and insurance costs, but perhaps where households have co…

Undoubtedly there is volatility and uncertainly around the world. There is also volatility and uncertainty faced by so many families who are struck by, and who are dealing with, all of these increases, particularly in rising energy costs. The Minister has said he cannot take to his feet and say to people with all credibility that he will continue with the supports that were previously put in place…