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

One of the more optimistic sentences in the programme for Government reads, "We are committed to sustaining the progress made to date on waiting lists, and are committed to" further investment, etc. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the reality is that the waiting lists have gone in the opposite direction and are at an all-time record high. Quite appalling figures in a range of medical disciplines in almost every hospital throughout the country are going through the roof. There is a real crisis here. The programme for Government commits to "agree[ing] annual performance targets with each Hospital Group/Trust and CHO (Community Healthcare Organisation) on waiting times, linking to activity based funding.", and states, "We will establish a Performance Management Unit providing assistance to hospitals and service providers in reaching their targets." Given the abysmal results in terms of the worsening of the waiting times and the waiting lists, can the Taoiseach indicate what progress has been made on those programme for Government commitments?

See this speech in context