Mary Henry (Independent)

I thank the Minister for his speech and welcome him to the House. No one denies that a great deal of money has been spent on the health services. No one says that he has been doing nothing over the last few years. However, in spite of all the money being spent and the effort made, we seem to have terrible problems in some situations. I agree with some of my colleagues who have said that patients' lives are certainly in danger in some places owing to what I describe as a lack of co-ordination, and the effect on staff has been terrible. Other Senators have pointed out the grave shortage of nurses, with most of them leaving within two years of qualification. That is what the Irish Nurses' Organisation tells me.