Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is time for the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to go. He should resign. These four hospitals - the Mater, St. James's, Tallaght and Crumlin children's hospital - provide vital services. Their CEOs say the Government's cuts and demands for fewer staff and shorter waiting lists are unsustainable and undeliverable and that this approach is damaging the foundations of the health system. When four eminent CEOs from large hospitals state very publicly and clearly their lack of confidence in the Taoiseach's Minister for Health and his agenda for cuts, what is the Taoiseach's response? Does he have confidence in the Minister? Does he believe up to €1 billion can be cut from next year's health budget without hurting patients or compromising their safety? Is he willing to let cancer patients suffer because of the incompetence of his Minister and his austerity agenda?

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