Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Olivia Mitchell for sharing time. The health service changes by the day so, like the Minister, I will not be speaking from a script. I have been in this House for a year and a half in which we have had many debates on the health service. The Minister correctly stated there is no Deputy in the Dáil for whom the health issue is not the biggest one on the doorsteps or in the office.

In my time in the House, GPs and nurses have been blamed for the problems in the health services and cleaning staff have been blamed for the diseases within hospitals. Last week was the final straw when consultants were being blamed. Tonight the Minister has stated that patients are staying in hospitals too long, so it is now the patients' fault.

The issue was simpler 20 years ago when every area had its own hospital, and 95% of sickness could be dealt with therein. Complications have set in and now 95% of incidents cannot be dealt with in a local hospital like that in Navan now, from where a person would have to be transferred to Drogheda or Dublin and then go on a waiting list.

In my time in the House, I have heard how we spent billions on the health service but people feel they are worse off. Nobody in this House would disagree that people are worse off.

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