Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

There may be no good word in the document the Deputy is brandishing, but there is the good word of the many who have a good experience of what happens in our health care service. There is the good word of many who have had their physical and mental infirmities, difficulties and incapacities addressed by our health service and who have had good outcomes because of our outstanding medical profession, because of our outstanding and caring nursing profession and because of all the other allied support services that go together to provide an excellent health service.

Our capital investment in health is among the highest of all OECD countries, including Norway, which is often cited as a particular exemplar in the provision of such services. Let us look at where the money is being spent and what we are getting. First, let us look at the hospitals. Much of the focus of public debate and discussion has been on hospitals which provide more and better services than ever as evidenced by activity levels.

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