Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I say the following genuinely and I hope the Taoiseach takes it in that spirit. We need a new contract with the people for the next six months broken into two blocs, as I said. It would enable the lady I mentioned to see her daughter. I welcome the Taoiseach's comments.

Nevertheless I am concerned about what the Taoiseach said about non-Covid health services. We cannot have a position of robbing Peter to pay Paul. We have to diagnose people with cancer or coronary issues. Capacity issues arise because of Covid-19 but we cannot have one or the other, especially when it comes to issues like those I mentioned. It cannot be one or the other; we must deal with both. Otherwise, the number of people who will die from non-Covid diseases will be more than those who die from Covid-19. I suspect that could be the case already but we do not know. Honestly, I do not know and neither does the Taoiseach. It is why I am asking him to revert with those figures.

I am saying this genuinely as too many consultants and people working in the HSE have said the same to me that I have decided to say to the Taoiseach in the Dáil. I have thought about this for a long time and we need the analysis to ensure we are managing our resources in the best way.

See this speech in context