Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)

Nearly 2,000 beds have been closed in the country's hospitals, approximately 50 in Connolly Hospital, because of the cutbacks. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, is a Deputy for Dublin North-West and used to work in the hospital. In 2010, he criticised the previous Government for taking the view that budget targets should be achieved by closing services. He stated: "That is not the way it should be". I agree with him.

Last year, the current Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, stated that "the impact of the closure of hospital beds would lead to more patients suffering needlessly on trolleys and more patients waiting at home in pain due to cancelled operations". He has since changed his tune and is presiding over widespread closures. Recently-----

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