Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response, although it is a pity that a Minister with responsibility for health or with more than a passing interest in health has not come in. I wish to pick up on two points from the Minister of State's response. He said the House will be aware that the management of resources and service planning is a matter for the HSE in the first instance and that quality care and patient safety come first and the director of nursing is obligated in discharging her duties. I have no problem whatsoever with the director of nursing and commend her for the difficult job she does given the resources available.

This House allocates Exchequer funding and has a responsibility to maintain a level of decency in health care. What I saw in St. Joseph's last night does not reflect that level of decency. Like many services, St. Joseph's was not founded as a hospital but as a care facility. It did not look like a hospital to me last night, such was the level of overcrowding. I have argued in this House that the HIQA requirement that everybody be accommodated in one-bed or two-bed units is unnecessary. I am still of the view that there are many patients who do not want to be accommodated in one-bed and two-bed units. However, the level of overcrowding last night is certainly not what patients or the staff who care for them want, nor is it permitting the level of service staff were trained and wish to provide.

The Minister of State also referred to the overarching policy of the Government to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities. There are 2.7 hours of home help allocated in Limerick and north Tipperary for every person over 65, but only 1.6 hours in County Clare. Is there a difference? Are Clare people expected to be more resilient? Does it simply reflect politics? There is a Cabinet Minister in Limerick and one in north Tipperary and that is how we allocate resources in this House. It is simply not good enough. The people I am very proud to represent have exactly the same rights and expectations as those in north Tipperary or Limerick. There is a whole of baloney about how much the Government believes in equality but why not provide equality for the over 65s? I am sorry the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, had to come into the House because I appreciate he is not the line Minister responsible. Let us have a little bit of equality for the over-65s in the mid-west. Let us have the same number of home help hours allocated to the people of County Clare as are allocated in Limerick and north Tipperary. Since there is no Minister in County Clare, there is nobody to demand it. That is how politics works in Ireland - so much for reform.

See this speech in context