David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With all due respect to the Minister of State, he did not write that script. It was obviously written for him by a civil servant in the Department of Health. It is clearly an inadequate response to the questions I have asked. It talks about reassuring people that waiting list performance will be assessed. It then talks about performance evaluation and the significant potential of the special delivery unit. Bizarrely, it goes on to indicate that the 12-month time period - the Government's own stated promise - is a moveable feast. It is now 18 months and might be 15 months before the year is out.

The Minister of State said two consultant posts would be filled. In addition, he referred to bottlenecks, but they are already included in the Minister for Health's figures. The specialties of dermatology, ophthalmology, ENT and general surgery all have high waiting lists. Some 6,000 patients have been waiting for longer than 18 months. Senator Colm Burke is passing information to him, but it is the Minister of State who is sitting in the ministerial seat. If the Senator wants to be a Minister, he will have to wait until he is appointed. I am sure the Minister of State is well able to answer my questions.