Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important and urgent debate on our health service and particularly cystic fibrosis patients. I commend the cystic fibrosis patients and their families on their courage and dignity. I thank people such as Dara Crowley, Orla Tinsley, Paul Dempsey, Philip Ahern, Charlie Gallagher, head of the cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Gerry McElvaney at Beaumont Hospital, Dr. Murphy at Tallaght Hospital, Godfrey Fletcher and all the families in the cystic fibrosis association for their hard work and efforts in recent weeks.

I have met cystic fibrosis patients and have visited them in hospital. I know the issues and I understand the hurt and pain. Yes, they are being treated badly but this is changing.

During the election campaign I read and was strongly influenced by Sam Smyth's great article on cystic fibrosis. When elected I included cystic fibrosis services in my agreement with the Taoiseach. It is in section 5 of my agreement and is something on which I am determined to deliver. We need a dedicated unit at St. Vincent's Hospital and we need it as soon as possible. I agree that cystic fibrosis patients have waited too long. However, we also need an interim solution which I have been pushing behind the scenes. I thank all the cystic fibrosis families who telephoned my office with constructive ideas and plans.

I welcome the temporary solution to fast-track six beds for St. Mark's ward at St. Vincent's Hospital within weeks and an extra eight single rooms which will create a total of 14 single rooms available for cystic fibrosis patients. In my constituency I warmly welcome the extra €2.5 million for Beaumont Hospital which operates as a regional centre in providing services to people with cystic fibrosis. Gerry McElvaney and his team are doing an excellent job and I know the northside parents welcome this extra cash investment. This is leading to improved isolation and infection control facilities together with enhanced outpatient facilities for cystic fibrosis patients attending the hospitals. I am also meeting the chief executive of Beaumont Hospital on this and many other issues.

The battle has begun for these services. We will know in two years if we have won the war for these patients. I do not make any false promises but I give a commitment to try to deliver first class services to our patients. I will not take any lectures or old guff from editorials in The Irish Times accusing me of backstairs political deals on the cystic fibrosis issue. I gave a promise to help cystic fibrosis patients and I put it in the deal. All I want is that the deal be implemented as soon as possible. Politics is about delivering and if I can deliver to people I will be satisfied with my efforts.

On the broader issue of health, the hidden story in this year's budget was that despite budgetary constraints €16.2 billion is being spent in 2008, an increase of €1.1 billion on last year's provision, an extra €50 million of this is going to the disability sector and €35 million extra to cancer services. I urge all Deputies to support the cystic fibrosis patients.

See this speech in context