Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I welcome this opportunity to speak on the budget. I wish to refer to the introductory remarks of the Fine Gael spokesperson in the Dáil, Deputy Bruton, in respect of people on trolleys. The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, would have been there at the time and should agree with me that the reaction to what he said was, to say the least, juvenile and an insult.

The juvenile reaction from members of the Government was insulting to relatives of the people on trolleys and to the 34 people on trolleys in Letterkenny General Hospital today.