Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá tuairisc amuigh inniu a léiríonn arís go bhfuil ár gcórás sláinte ina bpraiseach. Is annamh a bhíonn seachtain ann nuair nach gcloiseann muid drochscéal faoin tseirbhís sláinte atá ar fáil do mhuintir an Stáit. The Taoiseach is probably aware that significant concerns were raised about overcrowding in the State's hospital emergency departments in a letter from the Irish Emergency Medicine Trainees' Association. These are senior doctors operating in emergency units and they are deeply concerned that trolley numbers remain extremely high. In the past two weeks, trolley numbers have exceeded 300 a day. The association also claims that the recommendations on overcrowding in the May 2012 HIQA report on Tallaght hospital are being ignored by senior hospital consultants. This is a scandal if it is accurate. Over a year after the HIQA report, severe overcrowding remains and patient safety is obviously a risk. Quality of care is being compromised. The letter states: "The appalling conditions that our patients endure in [emergency departments] should not go unchallenged." These are not my words nor the words of an Opposition or Sinn Féin spokesperson but the words of professionals.

We also learned from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation that 394 patients are on trolleys today in emergency units and wards across the State, of which 308 are in emergency units. Meanwhile, the head of the HSE has said bluntly that the money allocated for the health service will not be enough to deliver the services required. What passes for a public health system is crumbling before our eyes and under the watch of this Government. Will the Taoiseach commit to providing the necessary funding to the 2014 HSE service plan and will he commit to reversing the disastrous health cuts that the Minister for Health is responsible for?

See this speech in context