Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

Very soon more than 3,000 people will leave the health service. Before the previous general election the Taoiseach made a big deal about the health service and reform, and also about the principle of a universal health service which many of us were prepared to support. Many people have genuine concerns about losing top quality people from front-line services, especially those in accident and emergency units, those involved in surgery, top class nurses and other quality health service staff. There are grave concerns about patient safety. Even the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, accepted publicly that operations would be cancelled or delayed.

Will patients suffer because of the retirements and what will the Taoiseach do about it? Will the waiting lists get even longer? Last week a senior citizen who is an amputee had his home help hours cut. What does the Taoiseach say to his family on this appalling situation? Is it true that acute hospitals will lose 330 staff, services for the elderly will lose 150 staff, the primary care area will lose 125 and mental health services will have 114 departures? How can they cope with this situation?

Who are the transition teams? What do they do and what it their remit? How can the Government say it can run the health service in the next few weeks given the huge loss of quality people? Does he not accept that it will lead to chaos in the health service?

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