Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I would like to raise the issue of waste, particularly the waste of time. It will be ridiculous to spend time on a topic that is clearly going to change. If we spend time on this Bill, no result will stem from it. I hope the Leader will respond to my concern about wasting time by accepting one of the amendments to the Order of Business or come to another solution.

There are also issues of waste at the Mater Hospital. This probably applies also to every other hospital. Due to budget constraints a number of public service consultants are not working. While being paid, they are standing around with nothing to do. This is happening at the same time that the State is sending public patients to private consultants or abroad for operations. This is ridiculous. I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate this waste of public money. This is only one example of what is happening in many hospitals. I will raise this as an Adjournment Matter next week, if necessary.