Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It may not have objected specifically to that but there were objections to the way in which it was delivered. I do not want to give the simplistic impression that the IMO is simply in it for its own interests. However, as we are having this debate, it is important to recognise that there is a major industrial relations problem which is not all the fault of the Government. That is how I will leave the matter.

With regard to improvements, the Tánaiste is more than capable of defending her record and that of the Government back to 1997. She made the point that we spend more on health than France and Great Britain, which is a fact. I have heard Members state in the Chamber that we have employed an extra 35,000 to 40,000 staff but that none of these is doing anything useful because they are all in their offices playing sudoku and business games. Ten out of 11 of those staff are direct line service providers, which is why 93% of patients who come through our hospitals are satisfied with the service they receive.

We cannot constantly run down our health service and feed into a spiral of despair. I notice that Fine Gael's latest disastrous billboard campaign, which follows the tradition of the Celtic snail campaign, delivers a body-blow to all those who are proud of the services they provide in the health service. It demoralises and diminishes the work being done by doctors, nurses and health care professionals throughout the system to claim that people are scared to go into hospital. They are not scared. People are concerned about accident and emergency units and waiting on trolleys, but nobody is scared. These facts should be acknowledged by Fine Gael, although, from a narrow political perspective, I am pleased to see Fine Gael shoot itself in the foot once again.

Ireland's spending on health shows the fastest growth of any OECD country. However, spending is not everything. We must acknowledge that many of the best developments in our health service will be free. We need to provide better information for patients entering accident and emergency. For example, Deputy James Breen has personal experience of the dangers associated with people not washing their hands. Improved practice in this area will be free of charge to the health service. Patients should be treated with respect and as important clients of the service. Basic courtesy and manners cost nothing but would make a significant improvement to the health service.

The home care packages are important. The waste of money and the handing back of €135 million by the HSE is unbelievable. I am fortunate that my family and I do not have many health problems but a personal anecdote may underline the wastage that occurs. Last year I visited a health centre which had just bought a new bed for one of its rooms. I commented on the bed as it looked fantastic and was told that it had been bought because if the money had not been spent, the health centre would not get the same budgetary allocation the following year. The old bed was lying somewhere despite being in perfect condition. This kind of problem is rampant throughout the HSE and it has much to do with budgeting. However, we must remember that the HSE balanced its budget in its first year. That is a good news story that should also be acknowledged if we are to be honest about this debate.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss this issue. Huge progress has been made. On a political level, I fully support the Tánaiste in what she is doing in an extremely difficult job. Major, revolutionary changes are under way and we must be patient to some extent.

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