Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Dr. O'Reilly writes, and I have no reason to believe he is lying, that the oncology and renal ward to which the Taoiseach refers has been approved but that funding has not been approved. What is the point in saying in the national Parliament that they have approved a dedicated ward for this purpose when no funding has been provided? The post is still vacant and, no matter what the Tánaiste says, there is no funding for the ward.

What will the Tánaiste give back from the capital spend budget this year? The Book of Estimates states it will be €56.4 million. That happens to be 10% and is the figure that can be rolled over. How much will she actually give back? How can she give back that amount of capital moneys when there is such a need in the Cork and Kerry region and for the promised roll-out of BreastCheck? Three years later women in that area do not have access to that essential service, which the same oncologist said has cost 65 deaths in one year in this jurisdiction. I am not suggesting the Taoiseach is any less sensitive to the human tragedies involved than anybody on this side of the House, but he is entirely remote. The Government has learned the mantra about the successful economy — it is a single transferable speech. Every Minister is rolled out on television to relate how successful the economy is and how many billions have been spent. No one has questioned his ability to spend money but it is his ability to waste it and not provide essential services that concerns Members on this side of the House.

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