Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

The engineers who designed the Titanic said it was unsinkable but it sank on its maiden voyage. The Teamwork report will also sink on its maiden voyage because it is based on a perfect world and a perfect health service which do not exist. The report makes no reference to funding. In the current economic climate, nobody believes the Government has any intention of providing the necessary funding.

If the Health Service Executive proceeds to implement this report without the full capital expenditure, people will die. This is not scaremongering. One life lost as a result of the implementation of this report without the provision of the necessary funding will be one life too many. This report is not concerned with putting the patient first or reshaping local services in line with the needs of the local population. Rather, it is concerned with cutting costs and removing services from Ennis and Nenagh hospitals. No sooner was the ink dry on the report than the implementation team was put in place. Another plan is being hatched as we speak to remove services from Ennis as soon as possible.

Not one hand was raised in support of these proposals when GPs from Clare and Tipperary met yesterday. These are the people who work at the coal face of the health service and who understand the issues. The Minister, Deputy Harney, said yesterday in her response to a parliamentary question of mine that detailed plans are being formulated by the Health Service Executive in regard to emergency care, critical care and surgical services and that certain changes to current arrangements for the provision of some acute services will be made.

The people of Clare want a 24-hour accident and emergency service to be retained at Ennis General Hospital. There is genuine fear and concern among those living in west and north Clare that they will be further isolated from the provision of vital life-saving services. If this report is implemented in full, Ennis General Hospital will become a minor injuries clinic. A group of six advanced paramedics based in Ennis will be expected to deliver a 24-hour emergency care service throughout the county. The existing ambulance service is already starved of resources. If the Health Service Executive and the Minister are serious about providing funding, they must increase the number of proposed advanced paramedics and install them on a 24-7 basis at each of the ambulance stations at Kilrush, Ennistymon, Scariff and Ennis.

My colleagues and I are elected to represent our constituents and we demand answers on their behalf. The Minister, Deputy Harney, has the ultimate responsibility and she must come clean with the public. If we cannot obtain answers in the Chamber tonight, we will persist in our efforts to oblige the Minister to debate this issue in the House. I am disappointed she is not here for this debate. She should be in attendance to answer our questions.

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