Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

My question is quite clear. The former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, announced in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness — A Health System For You, that an additional 650 acute hospital beds would be provided in our health care system by the end of 2002. That announcement was made before the previous general election, but in October 2005 we have not yet provided that number of acute hospital beds in the health system. People are being misled. The Tánaiste should make clear whether the Government is committed to delivering the 3,000 acute beds. There seems to be every indication it is not committed to this.

Who decides Government policy? It is misleading for the general public when they hear the chief executive officer of the HSE making announcements like this one. He is responsible for the day-to-day running of our health services. As with the situation in Cavan and Monaghan, the Tánaiste is responsible for the health services. I would like her to clarify whether and when we will have these acute hospital beds. More than one hospital in the country expects acute hospital beds to be delivered. The Tánaiste should outline how committed she is to delivering these beds to the health services.

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