Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator MacSharry called for a debate on the sports capital programme. I have no difficulty in this taking place. Senators Quinn and Ryan referred to the difficulties being experienced in Beaumont Hospital. I refer to the Government's commitment in the past 11 years. Funding has increased from €5 billion per year to between €15 billion and €16 billion to run the health service, which is a serious commitment by Government. As has been stated on the floor of the House many times, the standards in our hospitals today are second to none and they have improved considerably. Everyone is to be congratulated, including all Ministers with responsibility for health on all sides of the House who made this possible.