Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Tánaiste is presiding over an escalating crisis in our hospitals. The Irish Nurses Organisation has called on the Cabinet sub-committee on health to meet to address this crisis. Has the Tánaiste arranged for such a meeting to take place? It is the least that should happen. With a Cabinet sub-committee in place, we do not need further task forces or what can only amount to a token effort and charade but real action to address the current crisis. In November 2004, when launching her ten-point plan, the Tánaiste stated: "Our ten accident and emergency actions will help patients and their families well beyond the accident and emergency departments". The reality of the past week was that people were unable even to access some accident and emergency departments. It was not only an issue of beds but of people who could not even get trolleys. It is absurd in this Ireland of plenty people are suffering within the health system.

Now is the time to concretely address this issue. Additional capacity of in excess of 2,500 beds is needed to resolve the problem but nobody should say that is not achievable. In my community, a situation arose recently in which 26 beds were removed and photographs in my local newspaper revealed they were dumped at the side of the hospital building. That is incredible but it is the reality. It is time for the Tánaiste to take back the reins of responsibility because she cannot continue to wash her hands of blame like Macbeth. She is the Minister and the people expect her to take responsibility and to act accordingly.

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