Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle might tell me when I have three minutes remaining.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this motion, which highlights the challenges facing everyone in the provision of health care. There will be ideological debates and differences over how to provide that care, but the Minister and Deputies opposite referred to the fundamental issue, namely, that we should have an honest debate on what we are trying to achieve, how to provide primary care and how to fund health care, be it through universal health insurance or otherwise.

The Minister has only been in Government for a short period, some eight months, but his transformation and that of the parties opposite has been chameleon-like, given the differences between their remarks in the Chamber now and only a short while ago. We should have an honest debate on what was said previously and what is being said today. I filled in for Ministers for Health and Children and answered questions while I was on the other side of the House. Roles have been reversed, but I am listening to some of the same answers.

The closure of hospital beds is a fundamental issue. As recently as last year, the Minister stated that bed closures kept people on trolleys or at home in severe pain. Beds are being closed daily.

It has been suggested that the Opposition does not have a role to play in holding the Government to account, but we must hold the Government to account by highlighting the inadequacies in hospital services and health care provision. We must also hold people on the opposite side of the House politically accountable for their statements and decisions.

I am a fair person and will adjudicate on the longer term. In the short term, the Government has not made a good start. The Minister has rescinded numerous solemn commitments that he gave while on this side of the House and while traipsing across the country promising people the sun, moon and stars. If there are concerns in the country and an opposition to reconfiguration, they were sown by the Minister and no one else. He consistently promised that, if he was elected, accident and emergency services in all hospitals would be defended, there would be more beds and more hospitals would be built. None of this has come about.

Roscommon County Hospital is an example of an appalling U-turn. The people of Roscommon were given a cast iron commitment that their accident and emergency services would be retained and enhanced. Besides sacking the board of the HSE, the Minister's first decision was to close those services. He hid the closure under the guise of hospital safety, but when issues about Portlaoise hospital arose, the Government had a different view. It can rubbish one report but must commit itself to another. There are glaring inconsistencies in the policies emanating from the Government.

Patient safety is paramount, as the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, stated. I assume every Deputy is for patient safety. If so, the Minister's commentary while on this side of the House was reckless. Everything he is doing now in the interests of patient safety is the exact opposite of what he stated he would do while in opposition. For example, he was going to retain accident and emergency services across the countryside.

Let us have an honest debate. I addressed the Seanad numerous times about the reconfiguration of hospital services in County Wexford. Are local Deputies now fully supportive of those proposals? Often-----

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