Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

It is actually worse because if we look at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, in September 2010 a total of 331 patients spent time on trolleys. I accept that is too many. In September 2011, under the Minister's new board in the HSE to which he appointed all his own civil servants from his Department, and therefore he is effectively the boss, 842 patients were on trolleys. We have not had a massive population increase in the past 12 months. Navan accident and emergency department is still open.

There have been huge difficulties in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. What is the Minister, Deputy Reilly, doing? When will he answer for it? The position has been described as being in meltdown by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. We need a debate urgently on this issue, not on 27 October or whenever the Minister deigns to appear before us. He should come into the House today where we can debate this issue.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Health come into the House today for a debate on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. We have three Senators from County Louth on the Government side and I have not heard one of them mention this issue. That is a disgrace because it is the most important issue affecting people on a daily basis. A number of elderly people have been on trolleys in the hospital for five days.