Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Bill is due to come in early next year.

There are, as I outlined previously, quite a number of time-lined pieces of legislation, some of which are very complex, which must be published and dealt with in this Dáil session. I have tried to say to Ministers what is on the A list is what we want to put through.

I understand the Minister for Health is to sign a letter to Deputy Ó Caoláin today about patient care on which the Deputy had been querying him, and that will arrive to Deputy Ó Caoláin today. Obviously, it is always an issue of concern in respect of difficulties at hospitals. We all know this, and no one better than Deputy Ó Caoláin in regard to the hospital in County Monaghan over the years. However, the stoppages will not make the situation any better. While many are under pressure, this is a matter of sitting down and trying to sort out what is in the best interests of the patients, the nurses and everyone else, given the constraints on resources. I would urge that people should do that in the first instance. Obviously, the Minister for Health is looking at the management arrangements that apply in hospitals in order that we get the best and most effective result in everyone's interests.

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