Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

It does not work that way, because the people believe her and do not believe the Government which has hidden hospital waiting lists but they have not gone away. Some 20,000 are still waiting for surgical procedures and others for medical ones. Some are waiting for more than 12 months. None of the targets on waiting times set out in the health strategy has been met. In the west some are waiting for four years to see a specialist. This is the great record that the Minister, Deputy Cowen, wants us to debate. I am happy to debate the record, as opposed to the rhetoric.

The Government's amendment to the motion is also full of untruths. It is full of self-congratulation and self-delusion. We only need to consider how we compare internationally to get a true picture. The 2006 European health consumer index puts the Irish health service second last out of 25 OECD countries.

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