Roscommon hospital and health debate
The Roscommon hospital row continued, with interruptions over whether local experiences were being accurately described. The Chair closed the exchange and called for a full, balanced debate on health, noting that the RTÉ programme reflected a long-running problem.
The Senator should look at what is happening on the ground because I have seen a huge change in the past six months. People in County Roscommon are not fools. They will not tolerate people like the Senator going up to the top of the hill, moaning and shouting, and saying lives are at risk. They know that the hospital is much safer, that they have a better hospital and that the work the last Government did secured their future and safety.
Comment on this
Will the Senator not ask the Minister to-----
Comment on this
Both Senators have had their say. Never the twain shall meet as far as the two of you are concerned.
I rarely comment here, but on the health issue, it is a problem people face at some time in their lives. Some commentators talk about mental health and disabilities in a very balanced way. We should have a full, balanced debate some time with the Minister for Health. I have been involed in politics for more than 30 years and it has been an issue for all of that time. With the way things are going, we should not have been surprised by the "RTE Investigates" programme last night. All it did was shine a spotlight. I held clinics for many years and many of the issues highlighted were raised. We tried to do the best we could and probably failed. We should have a full debate, not a one hour debate. Perhaps the Leader might invite the Minister to come to the House for four hours. Let us see who will contribute in a balanced way and get the Minister to respond, but that is only a suggestion, which I rarely make from the Chair.