Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

He did not refer to the 22,000 that he managed to leave on waiting lists. He was supposed to have eliminated waiting lists after two years. The Minister is beginning to suffer the affliction of memory failure which has beset Government Members of the House in recent years. I remember him stating that waiting lists would be eliminated in two years, which have now elapsed. What has he done? He reduced them by 4,000 in half a day. What about the other 22,000?

What about the hospital beds that have been provided for in the Estimates but for which no staff are available? This has happened in Naas Hospital, Blanchardstown Hospital, Maynooth Community Hospital, and with the recent clumsy efforts at Peamount Hospital. His Department funds facilities such as Peamount. The farcical aspect is that we were suddenly reassured the pulmonary care facilities at the hospital would be provided elsewhere. Lo and behold, the next patient referred from a hospital for treatment at Peamount was refused admission. It is typical of the ham-fisted way in which the Minister and his Department have gone about their business. He has failed the people and has failed to deliver on the promise he made before the last general election to abolish the hospital waiting lists. His time is up.

See this speech in context