Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This is not the kind of health system we want. This party will assist the Government to bring about efficiencies so that children can get treatment when they need it. When parents burst through the doors of a hospital, it is not Professor Drumm they are looking for, it is not a manager nor a senior executive at grade eight level, it is a doctor and a nurse who will be able to treat their child. As Deputy Reilly has pointed out, the longer one leaves curvature of the spine problems, the more costly it will be and the more interventions that will be required to bring children to a point where they can live a normal life.

Where does the Taoiseach expect to make efficiencies this year so that Crumlin hospital will not have to cut back on operations? Does he agree with the Minister for Health and Children's statement that doctors and nurses are deliberately victimising children with serious illness in the interests of saving money? If he does not agree with that statement, will he ask her to withdraw it or remove her from her position?

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