Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I was astonished yesterday when, in response to a question from me, the Taoiseach announced that the Cabinet sub-committee on health has not met. That sub-committee was announced by the Taoiseach in June at the height of the controversy over his decision to close Roscommon hospital's accident and emergency unit in complete breach of commitments made both by the Labour Party and Fine Gael, and in advance of the crisis concerning junior doctors. Today we see more evidence of that with nurses on strike in Limerick since 8.30 a.m. because of gross overcrowding and the effect it is having on patient safety. The Taoiseach will also be aware that there were 394 patients on trolleys yesterday, with the worst case being in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

These are choices which the Taoiseach's Government is making. Is é mo bharúil go bhfuil an Rialtas ag leanúint ar aghaidh le polasaithe Fhianna Fáil, agus ag cur fhulaingt ar shaol an phobail. Caithfidh an Rialtas stad a chur le polasaithe Fhianna Fáil. Cad faoin five-point plan? Point three of the five-point plan talked about reforming the health services. I ask the Taoiseach to stop implementing Fianna Fáil policy and to intervene directly to tackle this health crisis.

See this speech in context