Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am here to try to offer the Taoiseach and his Government help as they try to deal with a matter that causes a major crisis in the country on a regular basis. When I was in the MCH hospital in The Hague yesterday, I learned that every patient who goes into the hospital is registered on the hospital's computer system. When the number of patients in the hospital goes beyond the point at which patients cannot be seen inside ten minutes, an extra triage nurse comes on duty. It is an outstanding system, as it operates in the interests of every person. The longest period of time that passes between a person going into hospital and being sent home or being admitted is two or three hours. There is no need for hand washers in every corridor of the hospital, as there is no MRSA problem. Patients are admitted to separate units until it is determined whether they are positive for MRSA.

This is the health system we need and can have in the future. Our system should be based on the efficiencies in Holland, where there are five major health insurance companies. The Government should follow through on it because it is so effective in looking after people's health interests. I was intrigued by the Taoiseach's comment about the cost of this proposal. I was under the impression that when political parties ask the Department of Finance to cost a proposal on a political basis, it is confidential. I am not sure whether that is the case. I would like to compare what I saw yesterday with the strategy of co-location, which has been defended by the Minister for Health and Children on umpteen occasions. That strategy has not delivered a single additional bed.

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