The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, promised us that some emergency accommodation would be put in place in South Tipperary General Hospital regarding the accident and emergency crisis there. He told us there was a mini-tender and that the Health (Amendment) Act-----

That is not related to promised legislation.

I wonder, a Cheann Comhairle. How come?

It was promised.

I am the only Deputy who mentioned the relevant legislation and the Ceann Comhairle decided to stop me. The rest of them were not stopped. They talked about Syria, wildcat strikes and everything else. The programme for Government contains a commitment under the Health (Amendment) Act to provide safe places of access for people who are sick. The accident and emergency unit in Clonmel is not suitable. It is a crisis day in and day out. The Minister, Deputy Harris, has announced a mini-tender, aided and abetted by Deputy Lowry, so that they would have hotel accommodation there.

I now find in a reply from the Minister to a parliamentary question that the mini-tender process is not even complete. It will be a year after that before any effort will be made to have proper accommodation for patients in south Tipperary, west Waterford and beyond. It is a disgraceful situation and something needs to be done before lives are lost, although hospital staff are doing their best in appalling conditions.

Can somebody clarify the difference between a tender and a mini-tender?

At one time we had a Morris Minor and a Mini, but now it is a mini-tender and a mini-minor.

With the greatest of respect to Deputy McGrath, that matter should be considered as a topical issue. It is not a legislative function. The Minister has already made his comments in respect of the process being followed here. With respect, however, the Deputy should raise it as a topical issue whereby he will get more detailed information directly from the Minister.