John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply and his efforts in this regard. It is not only about spinal issues and I would not like to see the Minister's replies limited to that. I am familiar with, and raised with the Minister, the issue of tonsillectomy queues of young children waiting for ages.

One of my colleagues adverted to the necessity for clinical judgment to be in play here. I wonder how many cases that a consultant takes on privately are routine or acute. In other words, I mean where a consultant would sit by and watch acute patients suffer in the public system while dealing and treating with routine cases in the private system.

When will operating theatres be open at weekends? A spinal surgeon who was featured in the documentary last night is willing to work at weekends but finds it extremely difficult to make that happen in Tallaght hospital. That is merely one of the issues.

A final question to ask of the Minister, because we are so restricted in time, concerns the major investment hospitals such as Tallaght need. In respect of these three waiting lists, were the results of the documentary last night news to the Minister?

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