Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We meet on a day of national emergency. The matter of accident and emergency units has been raised on at least two dozen occasions in the past two years by the leaders of the Opposition parties and by other Members on this side of the House. I wish to ask the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste the question that is on everybody's lips about this matter. When did the penny drop with the Government? Was it the doctors, nurses, patients, their relatives, the constant radio phone-ins or Brendan Gleeson? It was none of these people. The realisation of the accident and emergency problem has come about because for 17 opinion polls in a row, the Taoiseach's party has been languishing in the mid-30s. This national emergency is driven by a sense of political desperation. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, can smirk all he likes——

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