The Taoiseach recently agreed with me about the desirability of establishing an elective-only hospital in the mid-west region, which I welcome. During the course of the consideration of that issue, careful consideration must also be given to the suitability of the site at St. John's Hospital, Limerick, which has the space, expertise and track record to make this an outstanding success. Does the Taoiseach agree that the provision of a State hospital, provided by the State on State lands, is infinitely preferable to what is being mooted by the HSE at present, which is some type of public private partnership with a controversial American outfit?

I am agreeable to the line the Deputy is taking. We should not complicate these issues. God knows that to get a health facility built takes an ordinate length of time, as we know from the various hospitals under construction, at planning or where there is a row before they even get off the ground. My view on elective hospitals is that where we have State land, we should get on with it.