Seanad debates

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

2:30 pm

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 22 Senators, including the Cathaoirleach, for their contributions to the Order of Business. Some 16 Members raised the issue of health in regard to the programme last night, entitled Living on the List. Those of us who are involved in our families, in our homes, in our lives and in our communities and as politicians recognise that the figures and what was portrayed in last night's programme were unacceptable. Nobody, whether young or old, man or woman or young boy or young girl, should have to wait in any type of pain. The stories and what was portrayed in that programme last night should not, as the Cathaoirleach said, be new to people. This has been going on for far too long, despite the best efforts of many and the abdication of responsibility by some. The "Prime Time Investigates" programme, if it does anything, will perhaps help to focus minds. Senator Boyhan was correct when he spoke of the need to have a synergy and a relationship between the Department of Health, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. That is something that has been badly missing.

As Leader of the House and a former Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health, there should be one list. There should be no duplicity. There should be no changing or alteration. There should be one list that should be reflective of the situation. The figure is far too high. It is about time we looked at the reality here. It is time for accountability. Those who are tasked with the running and delivery of our health system must be held to account. There is political accountability but there is no accountability among those who are asked to administer the running of our health system. It is time this happened.

As somebody who has spent five years chairing the Joint Committee on Health and who had a working relationship with many in the health system, my confidence in those who are tasked with running our health system is at an all time low. I would question their ability to lead the health system out of this debacle. We have seen an increase in the budget allocated to the Department of Health and the HSE in the last budget. When the party opposite was in government, when Deputy Micheál Martin ran out of the Department of Health, the budget was at an all-time high and there were waiting lists. It is not about apportioning blame to Ministers. It is about apportioning blame to those who run the health system and who manage-----

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