Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I thank the Tánaiste for her reply, but it is not very satisfactory. It was reported that a patient requiring minor eye surgery was transported by taxi from Dublin to Limerick at a cost of €600. That report was made on 7 October, but now the Tánaiste says it is not true. I am surprised, if it was not true, that it was not immediately rebutted.

Will the Tánaiste accept there are question marks over the national treatment purchase fund? This may grieve her because the fund is the particular baby of the Progressive Democrats. There are serious questions with regard to the value for money or otherwise of the fund. We know now that 36% of cases were seen in public hospitals which means in effect that those hospitals were paid twice to look after patients.

Will the Tánaiste reflect again on what she said about no patient being denied access to care through the national treatment purchase fund? I have evidence to the contrary. A constituent of mine ——

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