The programme for Government pledges to explore the provision of an additional surgical hub for the north west in a timely manner. On 24 February, I attended a meeting with HSE executives, who, after pressing, indicated that Sligo was the preferred choice. Shortly after that, the Minister visited Letterkenny. She came in listening mode. She listened to the professionals there and met the TDs and Oireachtas Members. She had a meeting with the consultants and representatives of the 171 GPs who favour a centre in Letterkenny. She is again meeting them this evening. I thank the Minister for doing that. She was in listening mode. I have every confidence that she will take the right decision for the people of the north west.

Of course, we took all of that in good faith. We had meetings with the-----

Time is up, Deputy.

I know I am being squeezed out-----

You are not.

-----but this is important.

That was the Deputy's minute.

The Ceann Comhairle would appreciate if this-----

Under Questions on Policy and Legislation, Deputies have one minute. The Deputy's time is up. We are over time so I am giving the Deputy latitude by taking the question at all. I ask him to pose his question to the Minister.

Will the Government confirm that a decision was taken in a back room with the Lowry supporters? Was a decision taken that the additional surgical hub would be in Sligo at the expense of Letterkenny?

I thank the Deputy.

Lo and behold, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, is here in the House-----

The Minister to respond.

This is important to Donegal.

The Deputy should understand the format. There is one minute-----

I do understand it.

The Deputy is over time.

I understand it, but the Ceann Comhairle was not as severe with others.

Deputy, I am not being severe. I am asking you to stick to the format.

Can I ask the Minister, the Government-----

To be fair to all colleagues-----

I could have placed the question now.

You could, but you should have placed it in your time. I ask the Minister to respond.

I want to say very clearly in this House that I am a Donegal man and I am not going to accept that people from outside Donegal would take decisions for Donegal. I want to know if this decision was taken by the Government in a back room.

The Deputy has asked the question. I thank the Deputy. I call the Minister to respond.

Do not thank me at all.

I thank the Deputy. I know and understand some of what is being said around Letterkenny and surgical capacity for the north-west region. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has been engaging with the Deputy and other representatives of the north west in the context of the surgical demand that is there. She is engaging in that process in good faith. Over the coming period, we will set out the future plans around surgical capacity for the north west, where there is significant demand. She is listening to the community and the clinicians. She will continue that process over the coming period and will then set out her plans in the context of the capital provision over the medium term.