Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Reilly, for sharing time with me. When I look at the counter-motion all I can say is that it is time to get real. Before one can fix a problem one must admit that there is a problem. The dogs on the street know there is a problem with the health service, yet the motion is about clapping each other on the back. Reference is made to the affordability of nursing home care for 15,500 people. One can ask how many people have got it. A total of 15,500 people have applied for it but many of them have been waiting a long time for an answer. Many of the items referred to on the list in the counter-motion are in serious doubt and ignore the reality of the serious problems in the health service. We want them to be dealt with. We are not making them up. They are real. The Minister can say the average time on the waiting list is 2.6 months but she is aware that people come to our offices who are waiting 12 or 18 months.

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