Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Is the Taoiseach aware the health service is facing its first crisis since he took office? Accident and emergency units are struggling to maintain 24-hour cover and are at risk of closing. Hospitals and hospital wards are facing closure while essential services, such as maternity and infant schemes, are under threat. Up to 1,600 hospital beds have been closed due to the previous Administration's cutbacks but this Government has not re-opened one of those beds.

One of the main factors in this health crisis is the shortage of junior doctors on whom our public hospitals are dependent. I predict that on 11 July, following the changeover in job rotations, the number of vacant junior doctor posts will come to at least 400. This will be substantially worse than anything seen before. It will have a devastating effect on the provision of front-line services in the health system. Will the Taoiseach accept this prediction? If so, what will he do to rectify this problem?

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