Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is long overdue that the Minister would account for his tenure in the Department of Health. The Minister should come into this House and tell us what he will do as opposed to commentating on what is already happening.

I am tabling an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, would come to the House today and take questions from Members and that he would outline his plans to improve the situation for our sick and elderly in the hospital system between now and Christmas. He should do that immediately. I expect the amendment to the Order of Business to be accepted today. Senators, including Government Senators, are very concerned about the matter because the health system is in chaos. It is in crisis. It has got worse. I did not think it could get worse after the Minister, Deputy James Reilly. I thought there would be some improvement when Deputy Varadkar took over the portfolio but it has got worse.