An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-18
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Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel

The part of the hospital that has 14 step-down beds and 40 staff is closing. That is very concerning because step-down beds are hugely important and are keeping the beds open for those who need acute and emergency care. While we have people who are not able to go home and live independently for a short period, we have to have step-down beds. The Senator said that the fact that clinics, doctor on call and ambulance services are also located there means it is a very important part of Drogheda and she is right that we need to look after our own in our own town. That is what Sláintecare is about and what the Senator said is happening really goes against all the tenets of Sláintecare, which was an all-party agreement at the time. We most certainly will write to the Minster and ask that closure be reversed and ask that the HSE does so.
Senator Keogan spoke about the vote last night. That absolutely is democracy. We have to respect that at different times, different Members both in the Seanad and the Dáil will not be happy with votes that are taken and the result of them, but that is democracy. Senator Keogan used the phrase "caving in" and I absolutely take exception to that. Hard decisions by individuals were made. People have to make hard decisions about votes they take. It most certainly was not caving in to any lobbying.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-18