Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I would like the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to come in to the House to explain to us what is happening in the Department of Health and Children and in the health services. Last year it was announced that she is banning the publication of waiting lists until, presumably, they have rewritten them to suit their own convenience. There was the recent announcement that we do not need 3,000 extra acute beds and then there was the horrific story on the front page of last Monday's Irish Examiner which has been adequately aired.

There are now reports that the publishing of the report into the extraordinary tragedy in Monaghan hospital will be late. Additionally, it is reported that the terms of reference for that investigation have still not been finalised.

I want to know what the Tánaiste is doing because on every issue involving any sense of public crisis there is temporising, delay, revision and review. It is time we debated this issue. I would like the Tánaiste to come to the House to explain what she thinks she has achieved because to date all most people can see is the health service going backwards.