Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are here again, as we have been countless times, discussing the health crisis and the healthcare system. Each time, the Minister tells us of a plan he has to sort out the crisis and time and again, these plans never achieve their stated aims. We have told the Minister countless times in this Chamber what needs to happen to fix the waiting list and trolley crises and the lack of doctors and nurses and asked him to look at the housing crisis, which has caused many of these problems in recent times. The Minister has nodded, as every Minister does in every situation, and agreed that this needs to be done but, unfortunately, nothing happens.

We now have a cost-of-living crisis that is driving our badly needed doctors and nurses to emigrate. They cannot stay and work in Ireland due to high rents, high costs of living and the staggering costs of owning a home. Parents have contacted me countless times regarding child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, because their children have been on waiting lists for years. Let us think about that. These are child and adolescent mental health services and young people are on waiting lists for years. That is absolutely appalling.

When are we going to be presented with a comprehensive plan to fix the health system and provide one that delivers for all and not just those with the ability to pay? One of the most shocking developments in recent decades has been that while people with money can get access to health services, those without money must wait. That is a shocking indictment of this society and Governments that have created a two-tier society.

While not directly related to this debate, I will refer to an issue that really affected me when I was outside Leinster House earlier. I cannot go without mentioning the horrific abuse in the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation and the need to immediately publish the report on the matter, as requested by the victims who stood outside in the freezing cold for hours. Nobody should have to stand outside the seat of Government and ask for a report that has already been vetted by a senior barrister. We have already been told it should be published immediately. What is the delay? I appeal to the Minister to ask the people in charge at Cabinet to do so. I believe the matter falls under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. Will the Minister please find out what is causing the delay? These people have suffered enough and should not have to suffer any longer. They want the report published immediately and that should be done.

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