Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach's last reply smacks of the Tánaiste's observation that the crisis in St. James's Hospital was manufactured by people in white coats looking concerned. The point is I know there is a problem because I was at Beaumont Hospital last night. The Taoiseach was not and is removing himself from the problem but it will not go away. Doctors in the accident and emergency unit told me that they must assess patients, irrespective of their circumstances, in a state of indignity and without privacy. The problem will not go away, unless the Taoiseach deals with it. He can mention all the figures and statistics he likes and tell me the HSE knows about the matter, but he must realise that he is the Leader of the Government, whose job it is to ensure it is resolved. The problem epitomises the failure of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats after ten years.

See this speech in context