Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If Senator Mulherin talks to the people there she will see for herself. In a response to a parliamentary question by my colleague, Deputy Louise O'Reilly, the Government has admitted that the much-hailed bed capacity review promised in the programme for Government does not yet even have terms of reference framed for it. Perhaps the Government Seanadóirí could answer this when they stop sniping at Sinn Féin. It is Government inaction, not complaints from the Opposition, that is the root cause of this crisis. The programme for Government was signed off last June, it is now November and such a delay in getting a vital scheme up and running shows either incompetence or a complete lack of understanding. We want the review to be started, staff morale to be restored and, ultimately, a free health service based on need.

Sinn Féin advocates an all-Ireland service free at the point of need. On such a small island there is no economic logic to having two separate health services, which results in the duplication of those services. Day after day the Leader, in summing up, talks about Sinn Féin's economic policies. Even this morning while speaking on "Morning Ireland", Dr. Hickey from Sligo said we had not had sufficient beds in the system since 1997, under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments separately and under the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael Government together. That is what has been delivered by the centre right, to whom we cling desperately and are told to cling by media commentators. In more than 19 years of their leprechaun economic policies they have still not delivered enough beds - do they need another 19 years? I am sorry but they do not deserve another 19 years.

My colleague, the health Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, Michelle O'Neill, MLA, recently launched a vision for health which stresses the benefits of, and seeks to build on, already existing co-operation. We need an all-Ireland health service and a Government that will produce sensible economic policies to look after the most vulnerable in the country.