James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I will ask a supplementary question. Why is it not possible to open more beds? Why, when the Minister is paying out €1.1 billion annually in overtime and allowances, can she not take some money away from that through proper organisation - overtime should be an exception - and use it to temporarily open beds? Why has the Minister not brought in generic drugs prescribing and drugs reference pricing, which, the Minister herself admits, could save a couple of hundred million euro but which she has put on the long finger?

Is the Minister saying to this House that the emergency room consultants of this country are talking through their hats when they state they believe the swine flu has very little to do with the significant numbers who are now attending? I am aware that in one hospital, the number admitted up to two weeks ago was only 12.

Since I have come into this House the Minister has muddied the waters. Those who come to accident and emergency looking for an X-ray or some other diagnostic test because they cannot get it in the community-----

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