Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The Taoiseach has informed us in many ways that he feels people's pain. Does he appreciate, given everything he has experienced over many years, that the 2001 health strategy commitment of funding for 3,000 extra hospital beds by 2011 is completely inadequate, that the time frame is neither real, appropriate nor adequate and that it must be re-assessed and a new plan brought forward?

Is it not clear, despite the money invested in the health system, that there were 3,500 more beds in 1990? Does this not suggest that we have not done enough and that those waiting in accident and emergency wards have an extremely good reason to feel angry at this Government? Despite the Celtic tiger investment, the greyhound industry licking its lips at the extra €55 million in funding and horse breeders neighing with delight at the tax breaks received, are those who are hospitalised or need hospitalisation not right to be apoplectic with anger?

What of the case of the 84 year old woman who was the focus of protests outside the gates of Leinster House today? She has been seriously ill since last Saturday but was left waiting and is still waiting on a trolley beside the area where the bed pans are emptied, as I was informed today by people at the hospital. That type of treatment for someone of 84 years of age who was brought to hospital by emergency ambulance is all too common. How many stories like this, reflected in the reality of people's lives, will be necessary before the Taoiseach realises that 2011 is never-never time and that 3,000 beds are needed now?

Other countries are able to provide this with less of the economic success to which the Taoiseach constantly refers, yet he is failing to do it in this country. Does the Taoiseach realise that people must be prioritised? Greyhounds and horses have had the running for long enough.

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