Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I will be brief. I join with other speakers in welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and his officials to the House to speak on the important issue of accident and emergency services. Undoubtedly, there are problems in accident and emergency units throughout the country. There is little point in pretending that is not the case. Since 1997, the budget has increased from €5 billion to over €13 billion, almost three times what it was in 1997, and 40,000 extra people are employed in the health service. As Senators O'Toole, Feeney and other Senators said, if we said to somebody in 1997 that the budget will have almost trebled and that there would be 40,000 more people working in the health service in 2006, they would believe that all the problems that existed in 1997 would have disappeared. Sadly, that is not the case. I acknowledge the great efforts that have been and are being made by the Tánaiste, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Health Service Executive but more needs to be done.

There are many reasons the accident and emergency units are in their current position. These include an increase in our population, people living longer, the unfortunate appearance of MRSA and the winter vomiting bug and the failure of the employees, particularly the consultants, to embrace change. My colleague, Senator Feeney, alluded to that in her contribution and to the major increase in the rates of alcohol and substance abuse, resulting in the crowding of accident and emergency units at certain times.

I did not hear Deputy Kenny's speech at his party's Ard-Fheis at the weekend but drunk tanks were mentioned. Senator Ulick Burke said one would not need a Ph.D to decide whether somebody was drunk. Perhaps not but one has to be an MD to know if there is something wrong with them. It is ludicrous to suggest that because somebody is drunk or under the influence of drugs they should not be treated for their injuries.