Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Who is making the decisions and why has she been left waiting a year and a half? What is the explanation, who is accountable and who is responsible? I could go on.

Yesterday a memorandum regarding cutbacks was issued. Given that we are moving into trickier economic times, what is going to happen now in the health service? There are to be cutbacks. Tallaght hospital has indicated its intention to impose cuts. Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, is reducing non-emergency orthopaedic surgery by 25%. Last night I heard of an elderly woman who is in pain and will have to wait 18 months for a hip operation. Non-emergency surgery is being cut in County Louth and within the Cavan-Monaghan General Hospital group an emergency treatment room, which opened very recently at the cost of €1 million, is being shut down. The list goes on.

What is happening in the health service, especially at a time of an economic downturn, when this is the quality of treatment that people are being subjected to? There is a lack of confidence in the Taoiseach and people do not believe he is telling the truth. How can people have confidence in the health service and in the ability of the Government to deliver, given the litany of cases I have outlined, and which seem to need airing on national radio to get any attention.