Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

If there is anything more indicative of the incompetence of the Government, it is the change in direction from the health strategy that it campaigned on to provide 3,000 public hospital beds in 2002 to this American system, ideologically driven by the Minister's advisers. Does the Government, on the eve of the general election, still propose to proceed with these contracts? When will the contracts be signed? Are there tenders for inspection? Will we be provided with that information, or has the Government called this off, at least in deference to its backbenchers——

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