Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

This motion tabled by Deputy James Reilly seeks to protect the front line staff and services which are Fine Gael's priority. The Government's counter-motion shows that the Government is in denial. The amendment contains no criticism of the current system nor any suggestion of any problems in the health service. It gives the impression that the health service is functioning properly with no problems. The Department of Health and Children has been selective with regard to the measurement used of the average waiting time for appointments. It does not refer to the number on the waiting lists which is the better measurement of the demand for services.

A total of €11 billion will be expended on the health service this year and this is a considerable sum of money. We have a Third World health service for people who have to wait and unfortunately, it has deteriorated down through the years. The front line staff work in difficult and extreme conditions. Theatre equipment in some hospitals is outdated and needs to be upgraded. This should have happened while the country was awash with money but this was not one of the Government's priorities during the Celtic tiger years.

We need a radical change in health policy and this is what the Fine Gael Party is offering with Dr. James Reilly's FairCare policy. Low morale seems to be a common thread in the health service and in all Departments. The staff are embarrassed about their working conditions and are under-staffed. Even though we have a small population we do not seem to be able to do anything right. We have no excuse not to have a properly functioning health service.

When political change comes, the people of Ireland will see a great difference in the health service and a world class health service will be provided.

Inefficiency is the order of the day in sections of the health service. I refer to the HSE medical card section where telephone calls are only answered in the afternoon and none accepted in the morning. This is a very wrong policy. Medical card holders have to telephone constantly and leave messages. This policy must change. The harsh reality of the cutbacks is evident in my own constituency. A total of 1,200 operations were cancelled in Beaumont Hospital in 2009. The hospital has run out of money and this is having a knock-on effect on patients. Better value for money needs to be achieved.

See this speech in context