John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the position the Minister has taken on this issue and I do not understand why Deputies are agitated and oppose this proposal. Rather than failed policies, a combination of excellent policies have come from the Minister and previous Fianna Fáil Ministers in recent years.

This issue is a reflection on the success of the economy whereby we invite the private sector to become involved in resolving the health service difficulties that have arisen over the years. Through this investment throughout the State we will see more public beds available and, more importantly, better use of health services.

Take, for example, the proposed policy of locating private hospitals on public land. This is something I entirely support and cannot understand why Deputies perceive difficulties with it. In my constituency there is a large land bank beside Portlaoise hospital and I hope to see a private hospital on that ground. I recognise the combination of technical and medical expertise, with other services, that can be used in the private and public sectors to resolve the issue of waiting lists and present greater bed capacity. I wonder why Deputies are opposed to this idea. I even began to wonder if Deputies feared we might resolve the health difficulties too quickly.

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