Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to discuss the Sláintecare plan. I thank the Minister for his time. One of the first things he did in his opening remarks was to talk about our incredible healthcare workers doing extraordinary work every day. We can never forget that. We have seen that day in and day out over the last 18 months and we must never lose an opportunity to pay tribute to all those healthcare workers.

Moving on to respond to some of his other opening remarks, the Minister spoke about the significant investment of more than €1.2 billion in new initiatives. In the year of the pandemic, when so many resources and so much finance had to be devoted to trying to fight this virus, it is incredible that the Minister has been able to commit finance and time and effort to new initiatives. It is welcome. The roll-out of Patisiran is one of those initiatives. I took up with the Minister personally and raised here the case of Mr. Pat Tinsley, someone I know well and who is a good friend. I refer to the impact of amyloidosis on his health. Having learned so much more about that awful disease and how it impacted Mr. Tinsley, and his peers, I thank the Minister for making a difference in so many lives. I also thank him for his absolute commitment to women’s healthcare and the provision of €31 million to roll out initiatives in women’s healthcare. The Minister has truly put a focus on this aspect of healthcare that has never been put on it before.

My colleagues and I on this side of the House fully support the ongoing policy and financial commitment to the Sláintecare plan. Its implementation is a priority for all of us in Fianna Fáil and, therefore, it is a priority for the Minister and for the Government. Implementation of the programme will certainly result in the largest overhaul of our health system since the foundation of the State. It is a long-term process and it requires adequate planning. Increasing and improving healthcare capacity is a prime focus for us. We were all concerned about the resignations of Ms Laura Magahy, the former executive director, and Professor Tom Keane from the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council, SIAC. We must take on board the criticisms levelled by them concerning the operation of SIAC. We must acknowledge that we have heard them loud and clear. It is important that the Minister has committed to setting up a new and more focused group which will advise on regional structures. It is excellent that some members of the original group have agreed to join the new group.

The Minister said that tackling waiting lists is his number one priority. It is important to acknowledge that people are living in pain and distress. In this regard, the Minister is putting together a ministerial task force that will follow the model of the vaccine task force, which worked so well. It is also important that short-, medium- and long-term actions will be undertaken. I acknowledge the substantial work already undertaken in recent months to progress regional health areas. We cannot forget the objective of Sláintecare, which is to deliver universal healthcare "to every girl, boy, woman and man" in this country. That has never been achieved. We have come a long way, and budget 2022 has highlighted the progress we have made in the Government’s commitment to progressing and transforming the healthcare system.

We are moving in the right direction. The issues highlighted regarding Sláintecare must be dealt with quickly and effectively. Delivery on this is our number one priority. In taking stock of where we are, the Government is making progress in health. The Fianna Fáil Seanad group fully supports the Government and the Sláintecare initiative. We want to see the issues within the implementation council addressed and we must ensure that service delivery and patient welfare remain at the heart of everything we do.