Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses here today. The past two years have been completely unprecedented because of the pandemic. It is probably a time for reflection about how we treat our healthcare staff in hospitals and how public health is delivered. As the pandemic recedes, fault lines are re-emerging in society. The fault lines that have defined this country in the past number of decades have been in public health, especially in hospital waiting lists and so forth.

There is obviously a huge issue in relation to reform and regionalisation of the healthcare system. Most people listening to this will want to hear that, in relation to public health, Sláintecare will deliver for them. In areas such as elective surgery or seeing a psychologist, will it deliver for them? Can the witnesses reassure the public that Sláintecare, in the immediate and long term, will deliver?