Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Minister of State on focusing on this issue and her acknowledgement that it is unacceptable that waiting lists are spiralling in the light of the fact that, in theory, there has been some investment, although it is insufficient. In the light of the slightly unedifying spectacle on the last Priority Question about taxation, we need to see greater urgency. I would be grateful, therefore, if the Minister of State spoke to the senior Minister in that Department to secure greater resources. This issue needs greater urgency and focus and there also has to be greater political will. I do not doubt that the Minister of State has that political will, but perhaps the Minister needs to reflect on the scale of investment required to tackle the spiralling waiting lists.

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