Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It is still important. I will send a copy of her letter to the Cabinet sub-committee. She wrote about patients having to strip inappropriately, a lack of screens, there being no dignity, rancid wounds, filthy feet, faecal matter, poor hygiene and smells. She also wrote that there was no time to clean trolleys, floors or surfaces and related how an older gentleman with a suppressed immune system had to lie in the corridor depressed and close to tears. Does the Taoiseach accept that this is inhuman? Does he accept, whether he meant it, that by paying €700 million to unguaranteed bondholders, resources are stripped from front-line health services in order to prioritise the payment of the private debts of bankers? I will send a copy of the letter to the Cabinet sub-committee, but will it deal with it and will the Taoiseach respond to Louise O'Connor?

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