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

Clearly we have to come back to this issue at a point when Mr. Watt has more information on it.

Creeping privatisation of the health service has been ongoing over the past 20 years or so and it has accelerated in recent times. Is this not at the root of why we find ourselves in this situation? If the State does not provide adequate public facilities, people had no choice but to try to get private facilities. Where does it lead us ultimately in respect of access to healthcare facilities if there is an increasing number of privatised services? That is combined with the lack of legal entitlement to healthcare in this country. We talk about eligibility rather than legal entitlement. Does Mr. Watt accept the issue of legal entitlement has to be addressed? Sláintecare calls for that to happen. Is there work going on in the Department on legislating for a legal entitlement to healthcare?