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

Exactly. The reality is that we are facing a very challenging year. The economy is recovering, but we must continue to consider ways in which we can operate more efficiently. I again congratulate the people who work in the health service on the great job they are doing and acknowledge that waiting times have been reduced. Hundreds of thousands of people had been awaiting inpatient treatment for longer than one year when I entered office. By the end of the year, it is hoped no one will be obliged to wait longer than eight months for such treatment. We will deal with this matter again later.

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