Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Large numbers of people continue to be denied access to timely healthcare, whether at hospital or community level. The recruitment and retention problems within the health service are now reaching crisis point. Sláintecare is an all-party strategy to address those kinds of deep structural problems and to bring about reform of the health service to bring it in line with best practice in Europe. We do not know where the Government stands on Sláintecare. The Taoiseach promised a Government response by last Christmas. He promised the establishment of an implementation office. He promised a lead executive would be recruited months ago. None of these things has happened. He promised legislation in this area and we still have not seen it. What is the Government's position on Sláintecare?

See this speech in context