Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I am not saying that, but I am saying that if we examine the volume of the statistics, particularly those on activity levels relating to outpatient procedures, we can see an enormous increase in the number of outpatient procedures carried out in the past decade. This increase in volume reflects the amount of assistance medical science now provides for individuals and the corresponding investment by the State to ensure that many people benefit.

It is inevitable in a system which involves such substantial investment and such an enormous number and range of operations, procedures, assessments and tests that there will be complaints from time to time about the system.

See this speech in context