Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of civil liability is one that, in the wider insurance debate, needs to be addressed. We will have the Judicial Council Bill 2017 coming back before us and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy D'Arcy, is working on reducing the cost of insurance. I note Cork City Council has set aside €20 million for insurance claims. That is a huge chunk of money out of the budget of the city council. It poses the question as to why we must have that kind of money. Let us have that debate at a future time.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of the accident and emergency department and the distressed girl. I have made the point repeatedly that the system of access to emergency departments should be changed. We need more investment in primary care which we are providing. Senator Norris, off-camera, made reference to the issue of drunk tanks. We need a specific area of emergency departments for those with alcohol and drug issues who come into accident and emergency departments, clog them up and hold patients up. Senator Norris is correct. There are people who come into hospitals who need to be seen as outpatients but there are people who misuse the hospital system by failing to turn up, failing to notify and cancelling on a number of occasions and that adds to a backlog. I would be happy to have that debate on the health system following the local and European elections.

Senator Mullen raised the sensitive and tragic issue in the National Maternity Hospital. The best contribution I can make is that we do not know all the facts. There is a review under way in the hospital. Let us await that conclusive report and then have a debate. Let us treat the matter with sensitivity and not use anybody, anything or any place as a political football. We all have concerns. We all have issues. Let us wait until we get the full facts when we can have the debate on the matter.

Senators Marie-Louise O'Donnell and Norris commended those involved in the healthcare system, particularly in St. Vincent's. The Senators are correct. There is a significant amount of work being done. We can have a real debate on the positivity around the healthcare system and about the need to keep the patient at the heart and centre of it. The remarks of both Senators are ones that should be promulgated.

Finally, Senator Devine-----