Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

We obviously have work to do.

Perhaps I might ask the Taoiseach about the reply that he gave on 20 April in which he claimed hospital facilities were excellent once one had got through the accident and emergency department. Will he correct the record in that regard, especially concerning people vulnerable to infection and in particular people with cystic fibrosis, who would not have to go near an accident and emergency department or hospital if more specialist cystic fibrosis centres were in place? I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has seen Dr. Ronnie Pollock's report, which was carried out for the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.

Apart from catching up quickly with a word in his ear from the Tánaiste, has the Taoiseach had a chance to evaluate the report's recommendations? Is he as aware as he should be that Ireland has the highest incidence of cystic fibrosis in the world? On average, a person with cystic fibrosis dies almost ten years earlier in Ireland — in his or her early 20s — than a person with the disease in the North or anywhere else. In the US, a person would on average live into his or her 40s, and much older in some cases. Will the Taoiseach increase the €300,000 the Tánaiste is giving to St. Vincent's Hospital, which treats 60% of adult cystic fibrosis patients, given the dangerously low level of services and facilities because of lack of funding? As a tangible way for the Taoiseach to help matters, will he indicate whether he will lift the cap on staff recruitment, which means the hospital cannot even recruit permanent staff with that paltry sum? It needs an additional €8 million to provide adequate services for cystic fibrosis patients. Will the Taoiseach at least indicate that he will lift the cap so that permanent staff can be recruited in the interim before the money is made available?

See this speech in context