Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

While we might have a problem, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle, at least we are not facing a crisis, unlike the health service. How can the Minister credibly claim to be dealing with the accident and emergency crisis when she is continuing to cut back hospital services? Is she aware of a document that came into the public domain this week which advocates the closure of the accident and emergency department at Monaghan General Hospital? That would have a significant knock-on impact on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, which is already grossly overcrowded. How can the Minister claim to be dealing with the accident and emergency crisis when more and more services are being closed? When will she stop this approach? When will she take charge of this problem and sort it out? She is allowing HSE officials to tinker about with the health of people in this State as if they were dealing with cattle.

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