David Norris (Independent)

The Minister of State stole my point but he is very welcome to it. It shows that he is on the ball. To think that one in four citizens visits accident and emergency departments is, to quote Seán O'Casey, "unnatural". Something must be amiss for there to be so many people visiting accident and emergency departments. One of the reasons for it is the way the entire system is structured. When I was younger, GPs were on call at all hours of the day. It was very stressful for GPs and their families but people could phone them at 11 p.m. and they would attend to them, even on a Saturday night. There is now very little GP cover, particularly in working-class areas, so people have no alternative but to visit accident and emergency departments for inappropriate complaints. This issue needs to be addressed.

I support the Tánaiste and believe she is a woman of considerable courage. She has taken on the job of Minister for Health and Children with a sense of mission and purpose. If anyone can do something with this very difficult situation, it is probably her and I wish her well. In tackling this situation, she will have my support and the support of most Senators.