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

The Taoiseach's position seems to be that there is actually no problem at University Hospital Limerick.

He has just recounted for me, in his view, a huge record of success and adequate investment. That seems to be his position. The reality on the ground, of course, is very different. I recounted for him the story of 71-year-old stroke patient who was on a trolley for eight days. The Taoiseach has heard before in the Chamber other stories of people left in the most atrocious and distressing of circumstances. The problem is very real. It is related to bed capacity, staffing levels and the embargo or staff control framework that is in action. If you talk to anybody who is a patient at the hospital, who has a loved one relying on services from that hospital or who works in the hospital, they will tell you that is the case. It is very clear that additional bed capacity is needed within the hospital network as a matter of urgency. I will put my question to the Taoiseach again. Some 1,500 rapid-build beds have been promised on three separate occasions. They have not been delivered. When will they be delivered and how will he face up to the crisis that is rolling out day in, day out, at University Hospital Limerick?

See this speech in context