Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a long time since I have heard such a disjointed and scattergun approach to a motion before the House. Senator MacSharry's speech was an exercise in innuendo, speculation and gossip. He even raised the subject of the children's hospital and suggested if it were built in any Minister's constituency Fianna Fáil would suggest it was due to the influence of that Minister. Only a few weeks ago, the leader of Fianna Fáil in the House stated a site had been available free of charge in Balbriggan since 2002. If it was available since 2002 why did Fianna Fáil not build a primary care centre in Balbriggan?

Senator Ó Domhnaill suggested we should build primary care centres in ghost estates. No wonder the country was in the state it was and that the Government inherited such a system. It would certainly take more than 18 months to solve the health problems we have, but the Minister outlined the Government's achievements over the past 18 months. There is no question that there is much more to be done. It cannot be achieved in 18 months.

Sinn Féin wants the Minister to resign but we take that with a grain of salt. It wants a utopian situation with a fairy tale system as the Senator mentioned.