Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Compared with September 2005, the average number of patients awaiting admission to accident and emergency departments is down by approximately 50%. The Deputy makes the point that we should be putting more resources into the public system. We have increased the amount allocated from approximately €3 billion to over €12 billion and increased staffing levels by 50%. We have a substantial capital programme of €500 million a year in the public hospital system. The Deputy will not acknowledge any of that, but he berates the fact that, through tax incentives, we are helping some private operations in the country to provide a service for the thousands who want it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. All the figures and activities regarding inpatients, outpatients, home care packages and palliative care packages show that we are increasing numbers and capacity all the time for public patients.

The Deputy's arguments do not hold up. His basic point is that he objects to the current private beds being removed from public hospitals.

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