Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise some questions with Ms Clyne and the IMO. I note the comments Ms Clyne made with regard to the NTPF diverting important funding away from the public health service. I very much agree with those points, and that should be taken on board by people involved in negotiations at the moment.

It is regrettable the decision was taken by Government to end the arrangement at the end of June, because there was huge potential. In the context of no distinction being made between public and private patients in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, it would be great to see that same kind of effort made on non-Covid care, with single lists being operated and all of the capacity within the public and private hospital systems being used at least until the end of the year. If we avoided a second surge or wave, real progress could have been made through the waiting lists for all patients. It is regrettable that did not happen. There is a strong argument for the State to retain the use of at least a few private hospitals in order to operate them as elective-only hospitals. There is commitment to developing elective-only hospitals at some point. Would Ms Clyne accept there is a strong case for retaining some private hospitals for use as elective-only hospitals, as happened in Scotland where a private hospital was bought for that purpose?