Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The population is growing and demands on hospitals are predicted to increase next year, as we must all accept. As a result of an ageing and growing population, the population will increase by 1% and the number of people aged over 65 years will increase by 3.6%. However, the Estimate does not make any provision for additional activity, meaning that children with scoliosis who are already waiting too long for operations will wait longer next year, and other people, including cardiac patients and people with a range of conditions, will wait longer or may not even have operations next year if the Government's policy continues.

See this speech in context