Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Could we just accept for one moment that there are huge pressures on the health services? All this spin has to stop because people across the country are waiting inordinate periods of time in agony. Recently, a case was brought to me by Deputy Dooley of a very elderly man waiting over two years for an appointment even though it was marked urgent and he was in chronic pain and in need of a hip replacement. Every Deputy in this House could bring the Tánaiste instances of this. Will the Government accept that a great deal more has to be done, other than the spin and the PR, moving the targets and extending the waiting times, as was done by the Minister, Deputy Harris's predecessor who is now the Taoiseach? That is the reality of what is happening with Fine Gael's health policies at present and its only answer seems to be deliver leaflets to advise people how they can get treated outside this jurisdiction.

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