Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I ask the Tánaiste to comment on and clarify a matter. It is deplorable that more than 500 people were on trolleys and chairs yesterday due to overcrowding in hospitals. When the Tánaiste became Minister for Health and Children she made a commitment to deal with overcrowding within months and published a ten-point plan, which is now in tatters. Is it not the case that in October 2004, when 180 people were on trolleys, the establishment of a similar task force, including a plan to deal with accident and emergency departments over an 18-month period, was proposed to the interim Health Service Executive? If the proposal had been accepted, we would be 18 months further on than the task force the Tánaiste now proposes to establish.

In respect of No. 56 on the legislative programme, what definite objectives and targets will the Government achieve in the foreseeable future to deal with the scandalous and appalling situation of 500 people being left on trolleys and chairs in hospitals throughout the country? It is scandalous that nurses, patients and doctors face the kinds of pressures reported in today's newspapers.

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