Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the issue raised, I commend the people who put in the petition but also the Mid-West Hospital Campaign and commend all the people in the mid-west, particularly in Limerick, who are campaigning for a hospital that is fit for purpose.

I need not tell people here, but want to put on the record, that we are experiencing at present in University Hospital Limerick the most overcrowding ever. This week has probably been the worst week in history. There are 100-plus people on trolleys every day. There are 120 today. There were 150 yesterday and 138 the day before. There was no let up in 2023 when we had 21,000-plus people on trolleys there.

I can understand the reluctance of witnesses to come in. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, would not appear. The Minister has form in this regard. The Minister is not here to defend himself but one has to call him out when he does not turn up to any debates we have on the health service.