Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are three extraordinary facts at the heart of this fiasco. The first is the extraordinary achievement of delivering what we are advised will be the world's most expensive hospital, ever, at an overrun to the taxpayer of €450 million. This is extraordinary stuff. Second, it is extraordinary to hear the Taoiseach again try to justify or explain away this fiasco, as if to suggest to the taxpayer that it is not such a big deal after all, that is, €450 million of taxpayers' money in any overspend. Perhaps, what is most extraordinary in this scenario is to hear the Government's coalition partner, Deputy Micheál Martin, extol the extraordinariness of the situation and then resolve to back the Government and its incompetent Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. This is truly extraordinary stuff.

It is extraordinary that the Tánaiste and other members of Government choose to label efforts to seek accountability as stunts. It is extraordinary that the Cabinet and Government are so arrogant at this stage that they defy the prerogative and duty of the Opposition to hold them to account because that is a democratic imperative and it is essential. It is essential because of this hospital overrun but it would be necessary in any event because the Minister for Health's record, frankly, is shambolic. Whatever the Taoiseach may think, or whatever his friend, Deputy Micheál Martin, might suggest we have a crisis in the health service. It is crystal clear at this juncture that the Minister for Health is incapable of resolving it. In fact, it has become apparent that he is part of the problem and not part of the solution.

We have the worst waiting lists across Europe. Last month, more than 10,000 patients were on hospital trolleys. Last year was the worst year on record in a perpetual trolley crisis that nobody seems to be accountable for. It is a farce. We had nurses and midwives on picket lines, which was totally avoidable but for the overbearing arrogance of this Government and the Minister for Health, who would only at the eleventh hour engage respectfully with our nurses and midwives. Then, we have the small matter of €450 million of taxpayers' money. Fianna Fáil might be prepared to sit on its hands but we will not. The anger around all this debacle is very real and it will not go away. I understand that the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, proposes to make a brief statement following Leaders' Questions, with no facility for questions or answers or even the most basic accountability. I suggest to the Taoiseach that rather than facilitating this fiasco any further he should do the right thing and relieve the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, of his duties.

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