Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I mark the occasion of the passing of Nelson Mandela, who was an example to all the world of what can be achieved by peaceful methods. His contribution to world affairs will live for millennia, and so it should. On the occasion of our recalling what was achieved by peaceful means in South Africa, it is worth noting today that the brother of the late Fidel Castro greeted US President Barack Obama by way of a handshake. That was also a very historic moment and one worth mentioning in the House today. Perhaps it is a sign of developments to come involving the United States and Cuba.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Denis O'Donovan. There has been an amendment each day on the health issue for many weeks and today it seems there will be a €200 million Supplementary Estimate, as predicted without any pleasure at the beginning of last year by this side of the House. The reality, in terms of the mismanagement of the health service, is clear for all to see. Senator Denis O'Donovan mentioned some of the issues involved. Up to 8,000 children have been waiting for more than a year to see a consultant in the two main children's hospitals. The HSE has revealed that 30,000 persons are on the outpatient lists at Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals. A massive 15,762 are waiting for treatment at Our Lady's hospital in Crumlin, with 3,351 waiting for up to two years. Some 1,150 sick children have been waiting for up to three years to see a heart specialist. Surely this is not a scenario we can celebrate as success in the management of the health service. On prescription charges, in reply to a parliamentary question in the other House the Minister confirmed that if an elderly patient needed two courses of drugs, he or she would be charged double the prescription charge. There will be an overrun of €200 million this year. It was confirmed by the HSE this week that 10,400 persons with serious conditions had had their discretionary medical cards withdrawn. That is before the beginning of the cull to save €113 million in the year ahead on medical cards. All of this is set against a backdrop against which the Minister states that in the year ahead he will save €666 million under the health service plan, a plan we have not seen. I implore the Leader to bring forward the plan before the end of the year in order that it is not lost within the festive season. It is important that we discuss it.

It is a disgrace that the Local Government Bill 2013 has been kicked to the back end of next week. We in this House are to be ignored and treated with the same level of contempt and disdain which led to an referendum which the people rightly rejected. I ask the Leader to note that vital legislation such as this cannot merely be stuffed in here in the last couple of days when it suits the Dáil. We ought to have had time to consider the Local Government Bill 2013 and the health service plan in an appropriate fashion, but that will not happen in the last couple of days before Christmas. The Government had time to bring forward these matters previously. It could have initiated such legislation and debates in this House, but it chose not to do so and it has shown again it contempt for democracy in so doing.