Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I welcome the opportunity of contributing to this important debate on a subject which touches the lives of all of us at one time or another. Irrespective of what may be said, the health services are mainly praiseworthy, though there are some occasions when they deserve criticism.

I am not suggesting that everything in the garden is rosy, no more than it was in any previous Administration. However, the picture has certainly become much rosier since the advent of the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition in 1997. The objective of that Government was to ensure, for every patient, a world-class health service in terms of internationally determined standards of care delivered within specific times and on an equitable basis. Undoubtedly, there are difficulties in certain aspects of the health services, but they have improved significantly.