Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----in particular our emergency departments. There seems to be consistent denial from the Government that the health services are in crisis. If the Tánaiste wants the evidence, she should read the reports of the harrowing case of the young man in Limerick last year.

The broader issue is that we have had spin and lots of it, but next year the Government will already have a budget deficit on 1 January because of the demographic increases and the demands being placed on the health service, plus the fact that it is carrying over €500 million. Does the Tánaiste agree the spin from the Minister will not be sufficient to run the health services next year and that what we need is a proper funding system in place to ensure the health services can deliver what they are meant to do?

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