Health: A telephone line which would give instant medical advice to redirect people to the best form of treatment was proposed by Meath East general election candidate Dominic Hannigan.
Mr Hannigan said everybody was looking for new ways to sort out the A&E crisis. An instant phone line service would give medical advice and was an idea that had been tried and tested in Britain, where NHS Direct received millions of calls every year, he said.
"The service can direct you to the most appropriate form of care for your illness, ranging from self-medication to sending for an ambulance. I want to see it all over Ireland," Mr Hannigan said.
Senator Michael McCarthy, candidate for Cork South West, said hospital hygiene was about maintaining a culture of cleanliness. It was a medical necessity.
Senior nursing staff should drive that culture and be given more authority - for instance, withholding payment to contract cleaner companies which did not measure up, he said.
Cllr Phil Prendergast, candidate for Tipperary South, said the A&E crisis would not be solved without more capacity in hospitals and more step-down beds. The "see and treat" system should be adopted, she said, where patients were assessed and prioritised.
Cllr Jim Townsend, candidate for Carlow-Kilkenny, called for more resources for community health workers.
He said there should be decent terms and conditions for community nurses and home helps. Privatising the home-help service was not the answer.