Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

Apology accepted. We fail the acid test of health provision. That is not to say that there are not thousands of excellent people involved in the health service. We all know many individuals who are totally dedicated, committed and professional in their approach. I have recently been in Sligo General Hospital and admit that there are areas in it where the service is doing well, such as cardiac surgery and hip replacements. However, there are fundamental problems and unfortunately we do not seem to be able to get to grips with them. We are almost in despair trying to do so. The Minister, Deputy Martin, was certainly showing signs of despair under the pressure of the past few weeks. I do not wish to contribute to his malaise but it is my duty to express my views and those of many others who are deeply distressed and affected by what is happening – or more worryingly, what is not happening.

The Taoiseach has given a hollow endorsement of the Minister's performance, suggesting he is doing his best. Of course he has every confidence in that regard. When benign teachers put "He is doing his best" in schools reports, it is not the ringing endorsement that parents wish to see for their children. The absence of Fianna Fáil support during the Dáil debate last week is all too indicative of their anxieties. It is quite obvious that they are avoiding association with a troubled cause and a Minister in hot water.

What happened to the health strategy promise of November 2001, and a pre-election boast that by the end of 2003 no adult would have to wait more than six months for treatment and no child more than three months? The Taoiseach says the Minister is doing his best and he would know. The Minister says there is no crisis in the health service but nurses are in revolt, public health doctors are on strike and major hospitals are shutting down access to beds. Confidence in our ability to cope with a SARS outbreak is minimal. Carers are angry and accident and emergency units are being overrun, while old people are left on trolleys in hospitals. In spite of this, the Minister says that to call it a crisis is to overstate the case. I do not think it is being overstated; it is calling it as it is. He is the Minister and he would know and the Taoiseach says he is doing his best.