Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to the House. I have been looking forward to the debate and am pleased to be here. None of us can deny that the country's accident and emergency services are in serious crisis. The Tánaiste put up her hands and said so. I was shocked when she said that at least 1.2 million people visit accident and emergency departments every year. The media and the whole country seem to have little else to discuss. We all know that serious remedial action must be taken.

The Tánaiste has outlined some of the causes of gridlock in accident and emergency departments. The following factors also have an impact: Lack of investment and closure of hospital beds in the 1980s; increased population; increased life expectancy; curtailment of after hours service by GPs; and the increased level of self-inflicted injuries, particularly at weekends by younger people engaged in binge drinking, using drugs and acting violently. In a paradoxical way the crisis is partially due to increased prosperity which has resulted in rapidly increased population numbers, greater life expectancy and more spending power. The Government, the Health Service Executive, and the medical and health professions must all work together to urgently deal with this grave situation.

Last year in this House I suggested the possibility of doctor-only medical cards and I am pleased that the Government, in its wisdom, announced the provision of such cards in last December's budget.