James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

-----and long before I came into power. I have now since set up, as another proactive piece of work, a group to look at discretionary medical cards. It is a group made up of doctors - community doctors, epidemiologists, a GP and others - to ensure the situation is operational once again. That was the discretion of the CEO of the health board and since the CEOs of the health boards no longer exist, no one seems to have the discretion to address that.

Deputy Kelleher states the fair deal scheme is not working and that it is all clogged up. Some 200 beds were released under the scheme yesterday.

On the contingency plans, which Deputy Kelleher bemoans and wants to see published, individual managers in individual hospitals have their individual plans. They are overseen by the regional directors of operations who report to the national director who reports to the assistant secretary in the Department. We have a clear line of vision right down through the system. I have been to several hospitals already and will be to more before the end of this month.

My main concern at present is that we maintain a safe service for all our patients, including all the expectant mothers. The other day I was in Holles Street hospital, where I opened a new theatre, and they have their plans well in place to deal with the number of midwives leaving. They have more midwives to come in place. Similarly, in Limerick, they have their plans. I was there on Saturday morning last.

Deputy Kelleher can scream all he wants. It seems his motion is quite peculiar in so far as it speaks of the failure of the plan before the day has even come. I do not understand it.

The motion speaks of 170,000 patients treated by the NTPF, but at what cost?

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