Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

On Tuesday people in Longford, Westmeath and south Roscommon who were sick or in pain were turned away from Mullingar Regional Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. A general practitioner rang for an ambulance for a lady patient at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. it had still not appeared. When the GP rang ambulance control, the reason given was that no beds or trolleys were available in either hospital. On the two occasions that I raised this issue on the Adjournment the Minister for Health and Children had the audacity to inform me she could not obtain answers to my questions owing to industrial action. I am raging with anger on behalf of the people I represent in Longford-Westmeath and south Roscommon. Who will look after them when beds and even trolleys are not available? I raised this issue with the Leader yesterday and do so again today because there is no point asking the Minister to come before the House if she cannot obtain answers. Who is in charge of the country?