Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister is very conscious of the need to tackle waiting lists. It is worth mentioning that 7,000 people, including 5,000 elective patients, are treated in our hospitals every working day and are therefore having their pain and concern relieved. Of course there is always increasing pressure to provide more services. Technology is delivering new procedures. The Minister has increased the number of procedures by more than 20% in recent years. Additional procedures are being delivered through a health service that is smaller than it once was. This is a priority. As a result of the initiative I have mentioned, the National Treatment Purchase Fund will this year provide specific care to 20,000 people who have been waiting for a long time.

See this speech in context