Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Like many of the debates we have had on the health services, it gives us a chance to put forward our views on various topics. It is the duty of the Opposition to raise what it sees as the Government's inability to address the issues concerned. It is unfortunate, however, that specific areas of the health services are often bandied from one side to the other. Individual cases are used to bash the Minister of the day or the Government, notwithstanding the difficulties that exist on the ground and the pain suffered by individual families.

Like every other Deputy, I meet constituents on a weekly basis to discuss their real concerns and the pain and suffering they experience. To some extent, it is important this is recognised but the action required must be on a strategic level. Last night's contribution by the Minister for Health and Children clearly took account of that. Notwithstanding strategic thinking and service plans, it is clear that funding is required to address individual cases. However, if we continue to dwell on individual cases on a daily or a weekly basis, our attention will be distracted from the need to restructure our health services generally.

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