Results 1,201-1,220 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There has been a major increase in investment in the health service. The Health Service Executive is implementing a consistent line of policy. I see this in my own section of the Department. Every citizen now has the same rights, irrespective of what region of the country he or she is from.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will address that later. I will also address Deputy Burton's extraordinary intervention later.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Tánaiste has clearly initiated a number of measures to improve the position in accident and emergency units but it will take time for them to come into effect. I accept that her initial schedule may have been over-ambitious but I have no doubt the initiatives she has taken will take effect.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I wish to refer to the national treatment purchase fund. That is another matter about which we never hear from the Opposition benches.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No, we did not. The treatment purchase fund has been successful in treating over 35,000 persons up to the end of last September.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It continues to use the capacity available in hospitals to ensure that acute beds are available for emergency patients.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Notwithstanding Professor Drumm's opinion, we are committed to increasing acute hospital bed capacity. This will have a significant effect on addressing the capacity of acute hospitals.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would very much like to deal with the issue of Deputy Burton's attempted sabotage of the future of the Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, which was truly fraudulent.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The name is still in place, and proudly so.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be glad to hear that I referred to its name in my address just before the Taoiseach contributed at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis. There are also admirers of James Connolly on this side of the House. Let us face the fact that public patients deserve to be treated in public hospitals.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Private patients should pay for treatment in private hospitals.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We will develop Blanchardstown as a campus for excellence. I appeal to Deputy Burton to listen——

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I appeal to her to listen——

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I appeal to Deputy Burton to listen to the views of staff at the hospital.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is an extraordinary appeal——

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——to have to make to a Deputy in one's own constituency. The Government has invested more than €100 million in the development of a tremendous facility on-site at the hospital.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The accident and emergency unit is second to none. I salute the work of the staff of this unit who have done tremendous work since it opened. I also compliment the staff and management on the proposal they put to the Minister, not at her intervention but very much at their intervention and with my support. Let us not mix up ideology with what is best for the patient. The proposal has been...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is a solid proposal to increase bed capacity in the hospital and it seeks to ensure that public patients have access to the public beds in the hospital. It will also ensure that the private beds will also be available for public patients. It is worthy of examination. I am very concerned that the principal finance spokesperson, whom I had hoped would be eligible to be Minister of Finance in...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I visit it regularly, as the Deputy well knows.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I did not promise phase two last May.