Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this important debate on the crisis in the accident and emergency departments of our hospitals. After nine years in power, the Government, in spite of its having had substantial resources and finances at its disposal, has done nothing about the nightmare of patients on trolleys in our hospitals. To me, it is a crime, scandal and disgrace. I find it a bit rich to hear Government parties talking about tax cuts for the wealthy while people are lying on trolleys, children with disabilities cannot avail of a speech therapy service, there is a lack of beds in our hospitals and a lack of proper home care packages for the elderly, there are students at second level without proper support services and there are many urgent needs to be met in society. I challenge the populist politics of Members of this House and must say straight out that health and education are much higher on my agenda than tax cuts. It is time for our politicians to hold their nerve, hold the line and demand investment in and reform of the health service. Let us put health ahead of greed and tax cuts.

The Ministers and other politicians should note that we need more beds and they should put a stop to the nonsense and guff in the media to the effect that the problem can be solved by reforming the service alone. This is misleading and dishonest and is conning the public. The reality is that successive Governments have failed to provide the necessary infrastructural support required by vulnerable citizens. The health system is sick and we need investment and reform to make it better. I reject the new mantra that the elderly patients are somehow to blame and I urge all Deputies to stop using the term "bed blocking" in respect of them. They deserve the service they get and they also deserve respect and, above all, our support.

The Independent Deputies in this House will stand by good practice in the health service and by patients and the citizens who pay their taxes for a quality health service. We have had too much old talk about accident and emergency services and we have had too much old guff and too many reports. We now want action. The solution comprises beds, investment and reform. If we provide for these, we will solve the problem.

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