The Minister is in denial – Senator Feeney appears to be in the same position – with the notion that there is a wonderful health service which delivers everything to everybody when required, whereas everyone knows that the reality is different. There is a growing crisis in the health service and that cannot be denied any longer. This was illustrated last week in the joint statement of the Dublin teaching hospitals, which pointed out that 250 beds would be closed and that this would have a number of consequences. It is also stated that: