Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

I call on the Leader to bring the Minister for Health to the House as soon as it is practicable to discuss the structure that is the HSE. A number of years ago, we were sold what I believe was a pig in a poke when we were sold centres of excellence. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Reilly, on his efforts to free up public beds being used by private health insurers, free of cost.

A young man in Kerry was involved in a serious car accident last Tuesday in which he broke his jaw, his cheekbone, his nose, his ankle and a bone in his back. He is still in Kerry General Hospital today because there is no bed in Cork University Hospital, one week later. This is not good enough and this is not what we signed up to when we signed up for a centre of excellence. I spoke to the consultant this morning and I asked why a hospital outside Cork could not be considered for this man. He has horrific injuries since last week and he has not been dealt with. This is not good enough.