Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise two issues, the first of which is health care, while the second is leniency in sentencing.

According to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, IHCA, the State and the Government are condemning acutely ill patients to experiencing unacceptable delays which will result in avoidable deaths in acute hospitals because of a chronic lack of capacity. Speaking at its annual conference in Limerick, Dr. Tom Ryan, president of the IHCA, said the evidence that we needed more acute hospital capacity was compelling. Despite a growing and ageing population, more than 1,400 inpatient acute hospital beds were closed in the past decade. The number of elective surgeries has declined by 50% in the past four years. There has also been a persistent policy from the Government of rationing health care by the State as it has systematically decreased the number of inpatient beds in public hospitals. Successive Governments have failed to address this issue in successive budgets and health capital plans. This is the root cause of waiting lists and the treatment of patients on trolleys. I have previously referred to the delays about which we hear about anecdotally, as well as to patients not receiving chemotherapy on time and the rationing of imaging scans in cancer treatment. The Government promised 1,500 more nurses, but the reality is that only 13 of those positions will be filled. There is a serious issue across the public sector in the recruitment and retention of State workers, specifically nurses and members of the Defence Forces. We need to examine it seriously. The State needs to consider how it will recruit and retain staff.

My second issue is leniency in sentencing. It is stated on page 101 of the programme for Government that more serious legislation will be introduced to deal with those who abuse and groom children. This issue is urgent and should be at the top of the agenda. I respect the Judiciary and the discretion judges have. They are given certain guidelines, but it is incumbent on the Government to act on the commitment given in the programme for Government and introduce more stringent legislation.

Another small item I would like to mention is flu jabs. It is the time of year when we should all receive the flu vaccine which is made available to us in the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is incumbent on us to lead by example and have the flu jab because the benefits outweigh the negatives. Herd immunity to protect ourselves and others is vitally important. I, therefore, urge everyone in the House to have the flu jab.