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

Despite the Taoiseach's attempts to reassure or to advance the pretence that we have enough capacity in our hospitals, the evidence is that we had staff protesting outside Connolly hospital and, for example, in Limerick hospital other beds are being repurposed for use as ICU beds.

It is very clear the capacity falls well short of what is needed and that fact was established as far back as 2009. The fact also is that there was not an ICU bed for that transplant operation to occur, which was very traumatic for all concerned, particularly the patient and the patient's family.

To make it clear for the Dáil, what is the plan now for ICU capacity as infection numbers are growing and hospitalisations increase? The Taoiseach has confirmed we have a surge capacity; to 350 I think he said. When will that be deployed? When will the Taoiseach and Minister for Health make the permanent investment we need in ICU to get us to a reasonable place where we are not constantly facing this danger and jeopardy?

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