Was Polonius not killed off behind a curtain? The Tánaiste is now a hop, skip and jump away from becoming Taoiseach. Almost every day of the lifetime of this Government, certainty today and yesterday, University Hospital Limerick, UHL, has been the most overcrowded hospital in the country. Of the 676 beds we were told would be required at the time of reconfiguration, more than one third have yet to materialise. As Head of Government, what will the Tánaiste do differently? The current Taoiseach has said it is a matter for the HSE, even though the HSE is not improving the situation? What will the Tánaiste do differently to ensure UHL is no longer providing a different level of healthcare from the rest of the country?

It is a hospital I know well and have visited several times. As Taoiseach and Minister for Health previously, I did my best to ensure it got a new state-of-the-art emergency department and additional beds. There are probably 100 or so more beds than a few years ago with more on the way. I helped secure the opening of the Leben Building, for example. A huge amount of investment has gone into that hospital. I accept it may not be enough, given that it is the only level 4 hospital for a very large region, but it is frustrating that that level of investment has not made much of a difference and so many people end up on trolleys. It is not right. It is the case that the hospital will need additional assistance, with more bed capacity in particular but we will have to get more involved in making sure patients are managed better as well.

I have seen hospitals turn around. Drogheda used to always be one of the most overcrowded hospitals; Beaumont and Waterford were others. Those three hospitals have seen dramatic improvements and probably have not seen as much additional investment as Limerick. It is something I am keen to see resolved and improved dramatically over the next two years.