James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I will tell the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, who is not here, what disgusts me: that people with cystic fibrosis die ten years younger than they do 50 miles up the road; that Beverly Seville Doyle, a 39 year old, died alone in a toilet in an accident and emergency department; that psychotic patients cannot get secure beds and put themselves and others at risk; that the people of Dublin North and Dublin North-East are treated on an open ward with 22 other patients and very little dignity, at great risk to themselves and staff, while private enterprise builds a co-located hospital on a site that was designated for a modern unit for their care; that 400 people were lying on trolleys only two weeks ago; that countless thousands of people are on long waiting lists for operations; that fungus grows on the wall of an old pre-fabricated building in Balbriggan where nurses take blood from mentally ill patients; and that children are admitted to adult psychiatric wards. That is what disgusts me and many people.

We need a Minister who will act. The technology and the people are available, what we lack is a Minister who is prepared to act, to show leadership, to stay here and fight for patients and put them first instead of going to the other side of the Atlantic. This week has shown yet again that the Minister is disinterested, disconnected, disengaged and has forgotten what leadership involves. We are hoarse on this side of the House shouting for action. Patients are dying waiting for it. The Minister should cut out the vacillation and procrastination, spend the money, sort out the HSE, act, build the units, give the people the health service for which they have worked so hard and paid so much tax over the past ten years. Let us not watch our bright young cystic fibrosis sufferers die ten years younger than those 50 miles up the road.

I commend the motion to the House.

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