Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We find ourselves in an unbelievable situation. Four or five years ago there was a vote of no confidence in the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and it led to a general election. That vote was called on the basis of the health service and health scandals. Nothing has got any better since then. People are waiting three to five years for cataract treatment, while others are waiting three or four years, in desperate pain, for hip or knee surgery. They are waiting for ordinary operations and procedures. We are lucky to have the cross-border treatment scheme but, just in case people would get some comfort from that, the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil Government robbed the people trying to go abroad to get cataract treatment by cutting the money almost by half. Good God almighty, have those in government any heart at all? They have no heart. They think they can get away with anything. They do not think people will realise that. When they go knocking on doors, they will look inside the doorway and see that the mother or father of the household cannot see properly and is in danger of falling down steps or whatever and that is because the Government is not dealing with the issue. The Government has been praising itself this week for opening an eye surgery clinic in Cork but at the same time they closed one in Kerry, as Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said. There are many situations throughout the country where people are suffering.

One of the good aspects of the health system is cancer care. Many people get access to it and have to be worked on immediately. I praise Cancer Connect, which is celebrating this weekend, for delivering a great service to and from Cork.

Another issue I need to bring up is a relief nurse for Bere Island and another for Cape Clear. I have been to the two islands in the past week. The number one thing they need is a relief nurse. They have a full-time nurse but if that nurse gets sick or wants to go on holidays, there is no healthcare on Cape Clear or Bere Island.

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