Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

We are opposing the Order of Business, to which I propose an amendment that the Minister for Health come to the House immediately to discuss the many issues within the health service which amount to a national crisis. A number of years ago a particular Senator, who will remain nameless, used to annoy me as he went through the newspapers each day. I regret to say one has no option but to go through some of the headlines today. They include one over a story on doctors raking in extra cash for supplying hospital scanners - no wonder the health service is in its current state if doctors are doing nixers at the expense of others. Other headlines indicate how the Minister has condemned the nurses' strike and declined to endorse prostate cancer screening services while there are 1,100 absences per day in the HSE.

What has happened about colonoscopy screening, having regard to the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, announced the provision of a centre of excellence in Sligo? Senator Susan O'Keeffe also promised an overall centre of excellence in Sligo. There are also issues with accident and emergency units throughout the country, not least of which is the unit in Roscommon, a topical example. The HSE is pursuing the implementation of recommendations made in three reports dealing with the changing nature of cardiovascular care, the national cancer control programme and the centralisation of pathology services. As my Sinn Féin colleague mentioned yesterday, this discriminates against certain parts - or even half - of the country. It is timely to consider Dr. Manning's input yesterday on what this House might do to ensure its survival and usefulness while upholding the rights of the people.

One wonders what the health strategy is. Representatives of the HSE are appearing before a committee today to defend cost over-runs. Yesterday the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, condemned nurses, but the only solution he advocated to deal with the pressing issue was, "I have asked the Department to contact the HSE with a view to contacting the Croke Park agreement implementation body." Is this the level of general management we have from Government? It is far from general management, I suggest and submit strongly it is autopilot management. It is the kind of autopilot management which runs this Government into the ground as it neglects the care of the people of this country.