Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I thank the Taoiseach for the reply. We have been living on promises for a long time. When the Taoiseach says that he and this one and that one are going to do something, it will be after the election. We will have to wait to see who is there. When is the Government going to react and lift the embargo? The facts are that day after day, young boys and girls who are trained to be nurses, carers and GPs are leaving the country because there has been an embargo in place for 12 months, since last November. The Taoiseach cannot deny it. It has happened and is happening. So many posts are unfilled and so many beds are empty because you cannot have beds if you do not have staff to fill them. That is what is happening. Even as we speak, these young people are flying out. We are calling for beds. There was not even an ICU bed to be got yesterday in most of the country, except for up here in Dublin. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, said he had reduced the waiting time for cataract procedures from three years to three months in Dublin. What has the Government done in Kerry? It closed down our unit and cancelled the insurance so they could not act. It was utterly criminal. That is the gospel truth.

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