asked the Minister for Health if he is responsible for the circular issued to Kerry County Council on 22nd August last asking the council to consider the use of St. Ann's Hospital, Killarney, as a unit for the admission and short-term treatment of psychiatric patients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Ann's Hospital, Killarney.
77.
Yes. In deference, however, to local views I have decided not to proceed with the proposal outlined in the letter.
Is the Minister prepared to stand over the statement made recently by a Deputy that so long as he was the Deputy for South Kerry and so long as Deputy Seán Flanagan was Minister for Health this hospital would not be touched?
Is the Minister aware that the people of Kerry do not want the isolation hospital in Killarney to be closed? Is he aware that at a recent meeting of the Kerry County Council, of which Deputy Spring is chairman, it was decided by an overwhelming majority——
Not by my vote.
——that the isolation hospital in Kerry should not be closed?
The Minister came to Kerry and threatened the local authority that if they did not get moving and take over the hospital he would do so himself. Is not that right?
We cannot have a debate on this matter.
The Minister threatened the local members of the authority that if they did not take action he would do so himself.
The Deputy is making a statement.
He is entitled to an answer to his supplementary question.
A circular was sent out on 22nd August concerning this matter and we discussed it for a whole day, and Kerry County Council decided by a majority vote not to take over the isolation hospital. The next thing was that we read in The Kerryman, the local paper, a statement made by Deputy O'Leary——
The Deputy is making a statement not asking a question.
——addressing the Fianna Fáil cumann in Muckross——
I have no apologies to make to anyone for any statement I made in my constituency.
He said that so long as he was the TD for South Kerry and Deputy Seán Flanagan was the Minister for Health it would be hands off this hospital in Killarney. Who is in control of Health?