James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----in regard to those who are urgent cases. Cancer cases are being dealt with first and other cases are being dealt with in chronological order. The real scandal is not the 386,000 people who are waiting but rather the 16,800 who wait longer than four years.

We have brought in hospital groups, which I believe will allow hospitals make much better use of their resources, reduce fragmentation and duplication, give much greater autonomy locally to groups which will have control over their budgets and their recruitment and, to a large extent, over procurement also.

They will allow hospitals to make better use of their resources; reduce fragmentation and duplication; have greater autonomy locally; and give them greater control over budgets and recruitment and, to a large extent, procurement. In the area of community care the integrated service areas are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with what is taking place in local government and the hospital groups.

It seems that, on the one hand, I am criticised for taking too long to make the changes and clear up the mess we were left with, but, on the other, I am accused of going too fast. On the issue of governance at the hospital in Tallaght, we were fortunate to have the services of Sir Keith Pearson who, arising from the HIQA report, has developed a new model of governance throughout our hospitals and hospital groups. While I regret that the Deputies believe they cannot support the Bill, I thank them nonetheless for their contributions.

I wish to address the comments of Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. We have an Oireachtas committee dealing with health issues and there is consultation. However, the Government cannot be expected to accept all Opposition suggestions on policy when the people have voted for the Government's policy, not the Opposition's policy. In fairness, we have-----

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