John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The Tánaiste stated in her address: "Every piece of the jigsaw to address accident and emergency department problems is in place: the analysis, the resources, the reform programme, the management, the targets, and the incentives". As the father of two children under the age of eight, I have experience of jigsaws. When I look at the health service, I do not see a jigsaw puzzle that has its pieces in place but one which has its pieces all over the living room floor and which must be cleaned up and put in place, perhaps by the next Government. The Tánaiste described the situation as a crisis and a national emergency. However, what we got from her today was an exercise in spin. It was self-serving, self-congratulatory rhetoric. The previous Government spun its way out of this problem prior to the previous general election and got away with it.

I hope the Tánaiste is not about to leave the Chamber just as I am getting into my stride.

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