Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Susie Long was a very brave woman who has done this country a great service. Her e-mail to Joe Duffy last January, which is reprinted in full in today's The Irish Times, is probably the most compelling narrative we have seen about what is wrong with our health service. She describes how she had to wait for seven months for a test which could have been carried out in three days and describes the disgusting conditions she had to endure at the Mater Hospital while she was a patient there. The Taoiseach is wrong. Susie Long did not blame the system — Susie Long blamed the Government. I will read from her e-mail, which she wrote when she was, admittedly, angry:

I've finally reached the angry stage, I guess. Who am I angry at? I'll tell you, Joe. The health service has been in the hands of Fianna Fáil and the PDs for years and all they can think to do is put resources into privatisation. They don't have the ability to change structures in the public sector that would put more resources toward patient care.

Why did Susie Long have to wait seven months for a test that could have been carried out in three days? Why, if medical science, hospitals, consultants and doctors are in a position to carry out a test or procedure for a patient who is insured or who can pay directly, do public patients have to wait for months for the same service? After more than ten years heading this Government, what is the Taoiseach doing to put that right?

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