Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

St. Patrick's Day, however, is one day and at best, St. Patrick's Day events are organised for a couple of days around it. We now have a Minister, however, who is on a visit to New Zealand for two weeks on an itinerary that according to the newspapers today reads more like "The Lord of the Rings" trail than it does like a State visit; the only thing missing is dinner hosted by Bilbo Baggins. Meanwhile, the health service for which she is responsible is falling apart.

We have already had the episode in Tallaght hospital. There is a also report, that has not been officially published but which has been leaked, on the organisation of the Department of Health and Children that states, according to The Irish Times, "The Department of the Taoiseach has run its rule over health and found a department under siege from the seemingly endless crises afflicting the sector. Staff are frustrated and disillusioned, morale is at rock bottom and leadership is uneven at best"

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