Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Ar son Sinn Féin, ba mhaith liom tacú leis an rún seo in aimneacha na dTeachtaí Neamhspleácha. On behalf of the Sinn Féin Members, I wish to record my support for the motion that has been proposed in the names of the Independent Deputies. This is a timely motion, sadly. I say "sadly" because the winter crisis in our hospitals' accident and emergency units is an annual event. It is as predictable as Christmas and totally preventable.

Many of the remedies to these problems are outlined in the Government's health strategy, which the Minister for Health and Children, like her predecessors, has failed to implement. I refer to promises that more acute beds will be provided in our hospitals and the additional nurses who are required will be recruited. The strategy states that the primary care centres that have been promised will be rolled out to help to relieve the pressure on our hospitals. It also promises the conclusion of negotiations with hospital consultants about a new contract. It provides for exclusive working by new consultants in the public system. It recommends the restoration of accident and emergency services in local hospitals where they have been cut.

It is scandalous that the number of people on trolleys and chairs in accident and emergency units reached an all-time high earlier this month. The Minister spoke about bringing in a new broom, but it has certainly not yet shown itself to be capable of sweeping clean. I hope it does not yet prove to have been threadbare. I wonder what we can expect from the Tánaiste in her new role as Minister for Health and Children. On 9 December last, she made a statement in the House that was remarkable for a Minister who is responsible for health. It did not receive much attention at the time or since then, but it deserves to be highlighted. I ask the Tánaiste to elaborate on her comment:

I believe in a minimalist role for the State in all our lives, including health care. All but two of the hospitals in this city are voluntary, private, independent organisations.

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