Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I object to Deputy Reilly's statement that our health system is totally underfunded. I cannot remember the exact words he used. I do not know whether he referred to GDP or GNP. He may be referring to 2005 figures. If one takes the spending in 2007 and compares it on a per capita basis with purchasing power, parity and so on with many other countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, we compare most favourably. The issue we have all recognised in Ireland over the past decade as we multiplied public spending on the health system fourfold, is that spending alone would not resolve the challenges without changing how we do business.

When the figure of 500 patients on trolleys was reached on a particular day for the first time in March 2006, I said the HSE had to apply itself to the task of resolving the challenges in accident and emergency services as if it were a national emergency, which it did. We have seen improvements of 40% to 60% over the past 12 months. That has been acknowledged by an organisation of which Deputy Reilly is a member, as well as the INO and others.

Admission lounges and facilities are being put in place. I do not have the date of when this will happen in Beaumont Hospital but during the remainder of this year and next year, huge——

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