Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join with the Minister in stating that it is sad to note that anyone has fallen victim to swine flu. We convey our sympathies to the families concerned.

When the Minister makes the point about more from less, will she not acknowledge that all we are seeing is more anguish, more stress for patients and front line service providers in our accident and emergency departments, and more people unnecessarily on trolleys and chairs over a long period? There can be no doubt that we are looking at a much disimproved situation from what the Minister previously described as being a national crisis only a few years ago. It is worse today. The Minister cannot defend that.

Given the suggested €1 billion cuts in the current year, has an impact assessment specific to accident and emergency departments been carried out concerning our public hospital sites? Has the projected €1.5 billion in cuts over the period of the four year plan been worked through in each of the subsequent years? Will the Minister indicate that her Department is conscious of what is happening and what is likely to continue to happen over the lifetime of this plan, if it is adhered to?

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