Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I compliment my colleague on bringing the motion before the Dáil. I call on my colleagues from throughout the country to support the motion because, by doing so, they will be supporting their home hospitals and the health service, and sending a message to the Minister that enough is enough.

My region of HSE west is reducing the number of home help hours. At the same time, €10 million is not being collected from private insurers. People in the HSE are travelling all over the world on holidays. They are getting sunstroke when they get there. When they come back, they attack the sick, the old and the weak. People are frightened by what is occurring. Every day when they get up, they listen to the HSE on radio saying it is cutting here, there and everywhere. People are sick and want help and to be looked after. They are sick of the Minister, Deputy Harney, and the Government.

I have a message for the Government. The Minister has been there for too long. She is tired, weary and dreary. To replace her, we have a man with new ideas and new thinking. A new Government with a new way to do things. We will get rid of the waste and the wasters because there is plenty of both in the health boards. Old people want to be looked after when they go into hospital. They are sick and tired of home help and other services being cut. People who are sick want to be looked after, not to always be hearing bad news from the HSE, which has too many people who are not doing their jobs.

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