Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is correct. The important point is that the waiting times, which we all accept are too high, are being reduced. There were significant decreases in October in the size of the 15 to 18 month waiting lists and the 12 month waiting lists are down by almost 20%.We all welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy Harris, in the recent budget, secured the biggest increase in the health budget in a generation. We also agree that the strong focus by the Minister is on reducing the waiting times. In addition, there has been an increase in funding through the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. I accept that Deputy Kelleher and Senator Swanick have been strong proponents of the NTPF, as has Senator Colm Burke. We will work to ensure that there will be further reductions in waiting times but it is not correct to say nothing is happening. It is not correct to say that there is not work being done. Substantial work is being done in the hospitals and the allocation of €55 million to the NTPF is an example of the Government's commitment to end the waiting times.

Equally, the Government is committed to a universal approach to the health system. We have not seen a Fianna Fáil health policy produced in a decade, not since the party got rid of - sorry, Ms Mary Harney was with the party in government and then it put her into health.