Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Half of what the Taoiseach told Deputy Kenny about medical cards and other issues is not in accordance with the facts. To dismiss the authors of a report that claims the health service is second only to Lithuania and argue they are talking through their hats shows the Government is simply out of touch, especially when one considers the large amounts of money pumped into the system after nine years of this Government.

If that is the Taoiseach's conviction, will he seek a renewal of his mandate? Will he instead limp into the summer recess with the Government in disarray? Government partners are not talking to each other, party seniors describe their Ministers as dysfunctional, worsening problems need to be attended to and yet the Taoiseach tells the House breezily that people are living longer. I suppose he will claim credit for that too. They are certainly living longer on trolleys.

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