Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

That was not necessarily the correct thing to do. I am glad that the Minister, Deputy Martin, is examining the problem and I hope the new health strategy, when it emerges, will address that issue and others. Nobody is denying that there are still major problems in the health sector. When we are being put in the ground, it is probable that Senators will still be talking about such problems.

I listened to Senator Ryan talking about our being a sick nation and I have to agree with him because the total number of people treated in acute hospitals increased by 6% from 2000 to 2001. Almost one million people were treated as in-patients or day patients in 2001, the highest figures ever recorded. We must be a fairly unhealthy nation given that almost one third of our population of 3.8 million is being treated. However, we can still find the means of providing a fairly decent service compared to other countries.