Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Reid. Before we get into the meeting proper I ask him to address the news that we got yesterday. It was stated in a reply to a parliamentary question yesterday that the average waiting time in accident and emergency units is 14 hours for people over 75 years and in other cases they must wait over 21 hours.

The HSE receives a substantial amount of funding. As I have said to Mr. Reid before, I am the last person who would argue against that funding but it seems that no headway has been made with waiting times. What will the HSE do to address this issue in the next two or three months? I hope that everybody in this room will reach 75 years of age and well beyond that and it is wrong to wind up in the intolerable situation of having to wait 14 hours plus on a trolley or in a chair for medical attention. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, the OECD and other bodies have said that our health system is well funded, in particular the acute hospital system. What will the HSE do in the next two or three months to address the current intolerable situation and what actions will be taken?