Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

In the six weeks since we last met, we have seen worrying signs of an economic slowdown. Just this morning we heard of over 300 jobs which are to be lost in Arklow. Economic times are clearly getting tougher, but what is more worrying is that we have seen unprecedented wealth squandered. We have seen a lack of reform in the health service. Everybody should listen to recent recordings of "Liveline" in the last few weeks, which dealt with young women and men suffering from cystic fibrosis, or they should read the interviews given by Orla Tinsley on cystic fibrosis in this country. There has been a complete lack of services and the health service has been a sham for them and their families. It is extraordinary that in this time of boom, we have one of the highest incidences of cystic fibrosis in the world and yet we have tolerated such shoddy treatment over the past ten years, despite the eloquent calls of the young sufferers from this disease. What impact did the boom have on these people and on the services they were looking to receive from the State?

A 12 year old was featured on "Liveline" this week who has a curvature of the spine. She was reliant on a private businessman donor coming forward and offering €100,000 in order for her to have an operation in England. Where is the National Treatment Purchase Fund for such a young woman and where is the HSE?