Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today, the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, complained that the Minister for Health was pretending about something. On the questions of targets and maximum waiting times, there are strong hints of pretence. What is a target? What is a maximum waiting time? How do they relate? There is no clarity. In fact, after parsing the Minister's speech and the motion, there is currently no maximum waiting time or target. The Minister stated that the target for a maximum waiting time of 18 months, which is outrageous and goes far beyond what was committed to after the Government entered into power, did not exist. According to the Government's motion, it will be introduced in the middle of this year. That target has been extended. People are getting sorer, suffering and paying more for medication while they wait.