Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

What specific actions has the Minister and her Department taken on the back of the report published last October by the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, entitled, "Well-Being Matters: A Social Report for Ireland", which found that we were joint seventh last on the list of the 27 EU member states in terms of access to hospital services? In that report, some 76% of EU citizens recorded ease of access to hospital services, yet only 65% of citizens in this State recorded ease of access. It was clear that the 35% who did not respond were from the least well-off in our community.

The IPH and the Combat Poverty Agency's 2008 report recommended that greater health equity and reductions in health inequality needs to become Government policy and be fast-tracked as priorities. It called for a health impact assessment to be done in respect of key Government policy. What has the Minister done on the back of this report, which is working towards being two years in situ?

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