Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

Long waiting lists, bleak medical outcomes, bad scores for infant deaths, MRSA infections in hospitals — I trust Government Deputies will not want to speak about this — and the lack of a health ombudsman typify the index findings. We are only above Lithuania and instead of hanging his head in shame, the Taoiseach came into the House last night and tried to flimflam us again.

This is the same Taoiseach who described as unintelligent people who had the temerity to complain when their loved ones were left on trolleys in casualty departments. He said: "It is a pity people are so unintelligent." That barefaced effrontery of the Taoiseach and his Government is most evident in the part of their amendment dealing with the Health Service Executive. Whatever the HSE is, it is certainly not bringing unified management to major projects in information technology, nor is it achieving national service standards or best value for money. It is laughable that any Government would claim this bureaucratic muddle of its own making. The HSE is incoherent in its management structures, unaccountable and known for its secrecy, and lethargic to the extreme in improving standards. Regarding value for money, I need only mention PPARS.

I do not blame staff within the HSE or its chief executive. However, I do hold to account the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who from day one mishandled the transfer from the old system of administration to the new. Her pigheadedness in failing to prepare and plan properly has caused endless problems. Most importantly, there are real dangers arising from the lack of accountability within the health service. That is one lesson that should have been learned from the contaminated blood and Mr. Neary scandals. However, thanks to the Government, the system has become less accountable, less democratic and less transparent than it was before the HSE was established.

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