I call Deputy Brian Stanley. He should bear in mind that there is a number of colleagues behind him.

My question relates to page 58 of the programme for Government and the commitment to improve and expand emergency services. We still have ongoing uncertainty on the future of Portlaoise hospital. On 15 December 2017, along with the other two Deputies for Laois, including the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, who is sitting beside the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, I attended a meeting with the Minister for Health. He promised two things at the meeting. The first was to press the pause button on the downgrading of the emergency department at the hospital and the other was to immediately put in place a consultation process. The Dáil will rise next week but 20 months later the facilitator has not been appointed. Difficulties arise at the hospital because of the uncertainty, one of which is recruitment and retention of staff. There is an over-reliance on agency staff.

We have got the question.

From a response I received earlier this year to a parliamentary question I know that €10.9 million was spent on agency staff last year, one of the highest ratios in the country.

I thank Deputy Stanley. We have got the question.

Are the people of Laois being taken for fools?

My problem is I am too flexible.

When will the facilitator be appointed to start the consultation process? Could the Minister indicate whether we are being taken for fools in County Laois?

Is the Minister in a position to answer?

Only to say that I am in the enviable position of taking questions today when all the Ministers are at the Cabinet meeting. I do not have the answer for Deputy Stanley but I will come back to him.