Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)

Earlier this year, when the Tánaiste was 100 days in office as Minister for Health and Children, the Independent Deputies tabled a motion similar to the one before the House tonight. At that time, nothing had changed. In particular, the chaos in accident and emergency departments was worse than it had been previously. After one year of ten-point plans and a range of promises and commitments, very little has been done.

The same dreadful scenario continues in the accident and emergency department in the hospital most critical to my constituency, the Mater Hospital. A constant stream of reports of people in their 80s left for days and nights on trolleys is a shame and a scandal for a country heralded as one of the richest in the world. It is only when an elderly family member must seek medical care that the extent of the scandal is brought home to people. There is a shortage of beds and trolleys with elderly patients forced to find a chair on which to spend the night while waiting for a trolley on which they must subsequently wait for a bed. Meanwhile, disruptive and often violent elements are crowded around them. I have had many desperate, anguished calls from relatives who cannot understand why the Government remains inactive and incompetent on this vital issue and seems incapable of decisive action.

I support my fellow Independent, Deputy Connolly, who has given a strong voice to those campaigning on the Monaghan Hospital crisis.

I record my disbelief and regret at the manner in which Mr. Pat Joe Walsh was allowed to die in Monaghan General Hospital. Whoever is responsible for Mr. Walsh's untimely death should be held to account for it.

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