Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support calls for a debate on the health report, and in particular accident and emergency services. Regarding the west of Ireland, University College Hospital in Galway has the very high bed occupancy that Senator Norris raised with reference to a consultant from the city interviewed on the radio. For that hospital, as for all others, this is a very busy time of the year, with winter influenza outbreaks.

We also have a very high number of tourists coming every year, since Galway is a very popular location for tourists, and that too puts a great deal of pressure on the hospital. It is not rocket science to say that we need extra beds in that hospital, and I am glad the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has spoken of 22 more beds and 60 staff. Those are the practical steps that must be taken. It is not all about theory at the moment, as someone said, but about action and securing beds.