Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister for his leadership role in the referendum on the eight amendment. I have not had the chance to say that to him until now. That shows what is possible if there is a will to achieve such outcomes.

At the core of the crisis in the health service is a lack of will to build a genuine public health service, which is creating difficulties, as is evident in the cervical screening scandal and the ongoing crisis in emergency departments. Some 9,000 patients were on trolleys last month and they included 92 children. The crisis is evident in the failure to retain staff. In that respect, I commend health workers.

The failure to provide children in north Louth with access to child and adolescent mental health services and the absence of a minor injuries unit at Louth County Hospital are examples of the crisis. There is a chronic lack of capacity as a result of Government policy, which means that there is a perpetual crisis in the health service. It is no more obvious than in the 700,000 on hospital waiting lists. More than 500,000 citizens are on outpatient waitings lists, while there are almost 80,000 on inpatient waiting lists. The two hospitals in County Louth, Louth County Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, have almost 15,000 on their outpatient waiting lists and 1,330 on their inpatient waiting lists. As a practising politician, the Minister will know that behind these statistics are stories of real stress, hurt and distress caused in people's lives. It is a scandal.

We have suggested alternatives. I commend Teachta Louse O'Reilly for her leadership role and bringing forward this Private Members' motion. We have forwarded our alternatives to the Minister. We need to work towards the creation of an all-island public health service. I commend the motion to all Deputies.

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