Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I move amendmentNo. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—supports the commitment in the Programme for Government to proceed with the hospital co-location initiative, which is designed to improve access for public patients to acute hospital care in a timely and cost effective way by freeing up 1,000 publicly funded beds;

supports the further commitments in the Programme for Government to ensure greater equality of access and care between public and private patients and, in particular, to provide an additional 500 beds dedicated to the needs of public patients; and

supports the Government's policy of encouraging the public and private sectors to work together in the provision of health care for the benefit of the entire population and encourages further innovation and initiative in this regard."

It is fair to say that Fine Gael's position has changed significantly since Deputy Olivia Mitchell, as the party's health spokesperson, told the Irish Nurses Organisation conference four years ago that competition in the private sector was the only way forward. It is clear from the contributions I have just heard that there are huge misunderstandings in this regard.

I join Deputy Brian Hayes in paying tribute to the former Deputy, Dr. Liam Twomey, who was an outstanding spokesman. I had a warm personal relationship with Dr. Twomey, who took his brief very seriously. Members of the health committee of the last Dáil did not do well at last month's general election. People like James Breen, Jerry Cowley, Paudge Connolly and Fiona O'Malley of my own party lost their seats.

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