John Halligan should seize opportunity offered

WITH the Belfast consultant who carried out the independent clinical review into cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford resolutely defending his findings, it has to be said that he is making a lot of sense.

If his conclusions were taken at face value by junior minister John Halligan, who based his political career on campaigning to upgrade the facility, but has also talked about bringing down the minority government, the local TD would find it hard to gainsay Dr Niall Herity’s argument that building a second specialised laboratory on the site is not justified.

Denying allegations of a conflict of interest, the consultant has also rejected attempts to undermine his methodology, insisting his findings were based on work carried out in an objective, dispassionate and independent manner.