James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

On the last point, there is tremendous confusion as to dental entitlements. Dentists have been told by circular and other means, in very obtuse terms, that they are to examine patients, and if it transpires that emergency treatment is required, then they will be paid, but they cannot know this until the examination is done. That is a farce.

On the substantive issue of eligibility, the Minister referred to chronic illness care. There is no primary chronic illness care in this country other than the very limited Heartwatch programme. We are paying lip service to the changes required in the community in order to ease the situation in hospitals and to change the way we deliver care, changes we all agree are necessary. However, lip service does not provide services to patients. The front page of the Irish Medical News indicated recently that there are two-year waiting lists for respiratory patients in Cork University Hospital. Even the smallest hospital has a respiratory physician, yet people are waiting two years in Cork University Hospital. The Minister wants to shove everything into that hospital. Everything is being taken out of St. Mary's orthopaedic hospital and shoved into the South Infirmary hospital, with facilities being closed left, right and centre.

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