Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the call for a debate on the findings of the Smithwick report and all that is contained within it. It is certainly shocking when it is taken in its full context, but it is also shocking when certain politicians would try to lay the blame, or at least part of the blame, on those who were murdered. One cannot do that if one subscribes to peace. One cannot have peace in the form of an à la carte menu; it must be on the basis of exclusive peace. All political parties should reflect on this issue and not jump to conclusions, and certainly not blame those who were murdered for any shortcomings in this regard.

The issue of health has been raised on the Order of Business a number of times. The Government can defend its record, if it so wishes, but the facts speak louder than words. In my own county, the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment have increased by 900% under this Minister's watch. The average waiting list for orthodontic treatment has gone from 458 patients in Donegal in July 2011 to 4,127 on 26 November this year. That is just over a 900% increase on the watch of the Minister, Deputy James Reilly.

We hear that waiting lists are under control but the figures and facts do not back that up. It is time we had the Minister for Health in this Chamber to discuss such issues. I suggest we need a full day to go through the shortcomings in the Department of Health, right across the board, whether it is in regard to medical cards, orthodontic treatment or the overpayment issue in hospitals and the culpability of the Minister and Department in that regard.

We have all seen the media reports on that issue in recent weeks.