Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Táim chun ceist a ardú ar chúrsaí sláinte. Is mór an náire í an gheamaireacht atá ar bun faoi láthair agus tá sí ag baint aird ar fad de na príomh cheisteanna sláinte atá sa tír go gcaithfear a dhíriú orthu. The pantomime in which Deputy James Reilly is the main protagonist would be funny if it was not so serious. It is taking the focus away from the serious health issues we have here, including: some 130,000 patients waiting a year or more to be seen; 60,000 patients waiting four years or more to be seen; the highest prices in northern Europe for unpatented medicines; generic drugs 12 times more expensive than in Britain; salary caps ignored by the Minister's special adviser and external consultants; primary care centres not built; the first Minister ever to be listed in Stubbs Gazette; and some ¤750 million removed from the health budget in 2012, resulting in cuts in all areas, and a further ¤130 million removed in August. It is scandalous this is happening on the watch of Government Senators and we need to do something about this quickly.

My colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, brought some new information on Balbriggan to our attention, which is interesting and useful in the wider picture. However, it raises the question - if the land was available since 2002 - of where the primary care centre for Balbriggan should have been built under the watch of Fianna Fáil. I am sure the Senator will answer that question.

It is important that we have a debate on the issue of confidence in the Minister for Health. I am aware there was such a debate in the other House, but things have changed substantially since then. I call on the Leader to allow us have a debate of confidence - no confidence from our side or confidence from the Government side - in the Minister. I would like to know more about his Einstein-like capabilities for algorithms, particularly with regard to how he figured out how to put two primary care centres in his constituency.

In the wake of statements on Twitter or on social networks from two Labour Party MEPs, I would also like to know where the Labour Party stands on this issue. Are there two Labour parties? Are those MEPs in a different party? Are they in some kind of independent European Labour Party? Why is the Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, so quiet on this issue? Will he issue a statement? When will he stand up for the people of this country in the way he promised before the election and address the issues I highlighted earlier? They are the real issues. The Minister does not appear capable of doing his job. This issue is a distraction from Government and while that is happening, people are suffering. It is about time it stopped. A motion of confidence or no confidence and a debate on that issue is important and should be held next week if the Minister is still in place at that time.