Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Only the other day, a former health Minister, Senator James Reilly, was touting the development of a €50 million private hospital in Fingal which will charge the HSE to deliver public services. He was also happy to confirm that the Taoiseach met the developers and was happy to do so.

When did this happen? The Taoiseach needs to explain the logic behind this. There is a false economy in the idea the private sector will build this hospital. It will get back every euro of the €50 million and more by making a profit on every outsourced operation and service the State should and could deliver on a non-profit basis. Already there are five private hospitals on Dublin's north side. Fine Gael is not serious about the Sláintecare report and the Government, through its actions, keeps reinforcing the public-private divide in healthcare.

When will Fine Gael finally commit to the investment needed to end the shame of Ireland being the only country in the EU without universal healthcare? Why is the Government permitting the construction of more private hospitals, which runs totally against the implementation of the Sláintecare report? Will the Taoiseach explain why he met these developers in the middle of the process?

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