Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he hopes nurses will vote in favour of the package which led to the deferral of their threatened strike.
“I am glad that the INMO [Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation] has reached an agreement with the HSE management to call off the strike,” he said.
Mr Kenny said the number of patients on trolleys at 8am yesterday was 290, a reduction of 33 per cent on the same day last year. While it was still too many, it was very much down.
The Taoiseach was replying to Fianna Fail TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who said hundreds of patients across the country had their elective procedures deferred and would join the thousands of people on waiting lists.
“This is shoddy, to say the least, insofar as the union gave very considerable notice it intended taking this industrial action,” Mr Ó Fearghaíl added. The Government, he said, had a habit of allowing situations to become totally chaotic before taking action.
Shortfall of €100 million
To add insult to injury, said Mr Ó Fearghaíl, it was learned from
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there was a shortfall of €100 million in the HSE’s 2016 service plan, which would inevitably result in a failure to treat thousands of people.
Mr Kenny said the service plan would be published today, adding Minister for Health Leo Varadkar had made it clear there was no diminution in any service.
Mr Ó Fearghaíl said the Taoiseach had a plan in 2007 to get rid of trolleys. He also had a plan to introduce universal health insurance which had been abandoned last month.
“He got rid of the national treatment purchase fund,” Mr Ó Fearghaíl added.
Mr Kenny said the plan was to abolish an unfair two-tier system and provide a universal health care, funded by a particular model of universal health insurance.
He said plans by the Government in other health areas had been implemented.
"Fianna Fáil put the HSE together on top of all the health boards," said Mr Kenny. "The result was described by the chief executive as an amorphous blob . . . The deputy's party created an amorphous blob."
Pressed by Mr Ó Fearghaíl to say why the Government had not already done away with the HSE, Mr Kenny said the plan was to abolish it. He said foundations had to be put in place to provide a universal health care system, which took time.
