Dáil debates

Thursday, 25 January 2007

Health Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

11:00 am

Photo of   John Curran John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

Before I look at the specifics of the Bill I wish to make some general comments. It is unusual for me to speak on health-related issues yet like many colleagues in the House we have much experience dealing with health services as public representatives but also as individuals and family members.

At the weekend I considered the health issues that arise. I regret the debate is frequently predictable. We on this side of the House comment on the new services, additional expenditure and what is being done. On the opposite side of the House it is easy to highlight cases of neglect and issues of which we could not be proud that should not have happened but do happen. Those engaged in the health service, GPs, nurses and consultants, add to the debate from their own perspective. Much of the time when we debate health issues we are not patient orientated. The patient should be the centre of our attention and we should debate the issues around that but frequently that does not happen when we come from our own backgrounds and vested interests.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. Frequently, backbench Members on the Government side are accused of being armed with a speech prepared by the Department or the party but that is not the case with me. I knew generally what the Bill contained but I read it on Sunday afternoon when I was at home on my own. Later I went out for a pint with three friends. Initially, the conversation focused on what I had been doing for the afternoon as my friends could not reach me. I said I was at home reading a Bill. They could not believe it. They asked me what it was about. They thought it was a reflection of how sad my life is that I was reading a Bill on a Sunday afternoon. Arsenal and Manchester United were playing and they could not believe I was not watching the match. I said I could have watched the match, read John Drennan in the Sunday Independent or studied McKinsey but I read the Health Bill. They were intrigued and asked me what the Bill was about as a test of how much I remembered of what I had read. I explained it to them. I omitted to say that my three married friends and I out on a Sunday afternoon were watching the time because we had to be home at various times, depending on the curfew given by our wives. One of the guys said his wife was visiting her uncle in a nursing home. Having looked through the main contents and provisions of the Bill he asked if the regulations being introduced now are not in existence. The public perception is that for private and HSE nursing homes those regulations are in place. They could not believe the provisions of the Bill to which we refer. The Bill is a fine one.

It is a pity the previous speaker has left the House because he made the point that this legislation had been promised for a period. He is probably right on that and I do not disagree. Let us be honest, passing the legislation is not as important as its enactment. Frequently legislation is passed——

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