Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach will recall that some weeks ago I raised the issue of the impending crisis arising from the shortage of junior doctors. I named the hospitals which I believed would be affected and I asked the Taoiseach to intervene. I called on the Minister for Health to make a statement. He has not been accountable to the Dáil since 31 May. No statement has been made on the issue. Deputy Ó Caoláin also raised the issue of the plans to cut ambulance services for dialysis and heart patients in the west. Again, we have had no statement on that.

Will the Taoiseach indicate how many accident and emergency services will be either shut down or downgraded by the end of July? Will he confirm that the Minister for Health will restore the ambulance services to those patients in the west?

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