Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Some time ago the issue was raised in the House of a clinic in County Clare involved in unorthodox practices in the treatment of cancer patients. Subsequently, the clinic was closed down. One must be concerned at recent developments in stem cell treatment offered in the Cork area. Patients with multiple sclerosis, MS, are attending a clinic in County Cork and paying over €20,000 for three hours treatment using a technology developed in Switzerland.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland and the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience have complained about the treatment. The condition of MS can have periods of remission. People availing of this technology may feel they have benefited as a result when it is actually the normal sequence of the illness. I welcome the news that the Medical Council will investigate the treatment. The research into the technology has not been fully explored.

The chief executive of the Health Service Executive is today appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. There is no doubt that many questions will be asked of the situation concerning accident and emergency wards. It is worrying that the Irish Nurses Organisation stated over 400 people were waiting on trolleys in accident and emergency wards yesterday. Last year at the Progressive Democrats' conference, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children said she would end the queues for accident and emergency departments the same as she did for the dole queues. So far it has been a total failure.

It is admitted that more GPs working after-hours are needed as well as X-ray and other services. We need to change the logistical approach to health service provision. I am amazed that a Tánaiste who has been a part of the Government for nine years can attribute the upsurge in patients at accident and emergency wards to a winter flu epidemic and the winter vomiting bug. It was the same last year. We must be able to handle the logistics to cater for these events. Although it is laudable that extra beds will be provided in accident and emergency departments, where will they go if the wards are clogged up? Will new structures be built?

Discussions must take place with the trade unions if changes are going to be introduced. However, no discussions have taken place. It is a horrible critique that we are a cash-rich society yet our quality of life has suffered as a result. When will we get to grips with the accident and emergency situation? On her appointment as Minister for Health and Children, the Tánaiste drew up a ten-point plan and appeared on television and radio claiming it was a new dawn for the health service. Unfortunately, we now have a worse situation. It is time the Government got to grips with it by way of a more logical approach.