Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' motion on the health issue and the disastrous situation in accident and emergency departments. I commend my colleagues, the Independent Members for working together and bringing this motion before the House. It sends out a clear message that we are listening to the people, the patients and the elderly. We are listening to the citizens of the State who are demanding action for the people on trolleys in hospitals. The Independent Members have been putting this issue before the House for more than two and a half years. The bottom line is that the Government has not delivered on the provision of beds and services. It has had the benefit of significant extra financial resources, yet nothing has happened.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children has promised improvements in the accident and emergency departments by next autumn, but why should we believe her? The Government has been in power for eight years with massive extra resources and revenue. Eight years is surely sufficient time to put an extra 500 beds into the system and so resolve the issue. I note that many commentators appear to be afraid to examine the record of the former Minister, Deputy Martin, on this issue and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, in respect of care of the elderly. The reality for people on trolleys is that successive Ministers, including Deputies Martin and Callely, have not delivered. People are sick and tired of all the spin while the sick are treated with contempt.

Statistics announced this week show that wealth per head of population in Ireland has overtaken that of the United States for the first time. Why then are patients still stuck on trolleys? It is simply not good enough. It is a disgrace after eight years in power and all that extra cash. It is bad leadership and bad management of the health service. I receive daily complaints on this issue yet the Government announces that €30 million is expended on reports. It is more talk and waffle. People are sick and tired and are demanding action, not in six months or 12 months, but now. The Government's time is up. We want 500 beds now as a start and then the Minister can develop the other aspects of the health strategy.

I demand that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, support five new radical proposals put forward by the Independent Members. I want the Government to take immediate action to address the ongoing crisis in the accident and emergency units. I want the Minister to outline a timescale within which action will be taken, to immediately address the growing sense of frustration among staff in accident and emergency units, make urgent provision for sufficient new beds to end the crisis and assist the hospitals in meeting all their needs arising from the safety risk assessment audit as required by the Health and Safety Authority. I call on the Minister to implement these sensible proposals so that patients may live and stay in hospital with dignity.

These issues must be dealt with and I urge the Tánaiste to act now. She has claimed to have a new policy and vision for the health service, people before paper, but I have seen no real evidence of this policy, particularly following eight years in power, €30 million spent on reports and extra resources and finances. The citizens cannot understand this situation. Eight years spent trying to resolve this problem is a disastrous record. I challenge the current Minister and the former Minister, Deputy Martin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Callely. The Minister, Deputy Martin, in particular has a very weak record on this issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Callely, has been inefficient and ineffective in dealing with the care of the elderly. These Ministers must take responsibility and accept that they did not deliver to patients, the elderly and those on trolleys. If the members of the Cabinet and health service management were in any other jobs, they would be sacked in the morning. Those of us who have always supported the public service have argued for effectiveness and professionalism.

I urge the Minister to take this issue seriously. I hope we must not wait another 100 days before action is taken. I will continue to keep the issue of health before this House and I hope the Government will start listening to the patients. I have always supported the campaigns by patients and their families for a better health service. People must be put before paper and the focus must remain on people and patients. It is not acceptable to have 400 patients on trolleys in accident and emergency departments while awaiting beds. I have a particular interest in the situation in my local hospital, Beaumont Hospital. This motion is in the interests of patients, the elderly and investment in and reform of the health service. I urge all Deputies to support the progressive policies of the Independent Members and to vote for this motion.

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