Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There were two reports. They were buried and everyone knows what happened. One was nine months late and the other has sat in a lonely room since February. The Department did not even have the class to change the date on the cover of the report.

In regard to the de Buitléir report, does the Government intend to implement the recommendations of the report to remove private medicine from public hospitals? Will it honour what Sláintecare said? I was part of the team that reported on that. Will the Taoiseach commit to that here and now? With regard to the capital plan, will the Taoiseach give a commitment to the people of the mid-west that the 96-bed unit that is required in the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland will be delivered? Otherwise, will he commit in the interim that there will be some change in the pathways in regard to how the emergency theatre operates in that area? We are in a crisis and we cannot continue. There will have to be different pathways in regard to Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's. Will the Taoiseach tell us today, on this date in September, considering we have had a nine-month delay with two reports, when the winter plan will be published for the forthcoming winter season?

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