Seanad debates

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to finish the point. People such as Senator Reilly, who tried to introduce initiatives to benefit the health service, were ridiculed, not only by some Opposition Deputies and Senators, but also by colleagues in his own party, including a recent former Minister for Health.

We have to stand up and say it as it is. We do not have the consultants to service our health service. Until we consider realistic proposals, such as those made by Senator Swanick, to extend the retirement age of consultants who want to continue in their practices and until we realistically tackle the pay and conditions of consultants who have been forced to leave the country to work under better circumstances elsewhere in the world, we will continue to have a crisis in our health service. However, I welcome the Bill that has just passed and I look forward to the Minister of State, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, introducing legislation to tackle the amendments proposed by Senator Swanick.

I welcome Dr. Enda Shanahan to the House.

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