James Bannon (Fine Gael)

Since the current Minister for Health and Children took over the portfolio, conditions in the health service have gone from very bad to disastrous. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to explain to the House the state of the ambulance service in the midlands. I was contacted yesterday by the daughter of a seriously ill and elderly lady for whom an ambulance could not be obtained to transport her from one hospital to another for specialist treatment. The case is indicative of the conditions which obtain in the midlands. Is the Leader aware that the Minister has instructed HSE officials to give out the names of private ambulance operators? The ambulance service is slowly being privatised, which is shameful and should not be allowed to happen.