Taoiseach defends Martin against Opposition pressure

The Taoiseach defended the Minister for Health as the Government's performance on the health services came under renewed pressure from the Opposition.

Mr Ahern said that the Government's objective continued to be to provide an efficient and top-class in-patient and out-patient service to all who required it.

"The Minister for Health and Children is doing his best, and, of course, he has my confidence in that regard," said Mr Ahern. "While there are difficulties within the system, we should not forget that thousands of additional patients are being treated as in-patients and out-patients every year."

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said that Mr Martin seemed to be keen to leave the Department without having to make a difficult decision. "He blames everybody and anybody other than himself and his Government colleagues," he added.

Mr Kenny, referring to Mr Martin, who was sitting on the Government benches, asked the Taoiseach if he was confident "that the person sitting beside him is capable of delivering the world-class service relating to the commitment made".

Following the Taoiseach's defence of Mr Martin, the Fine Gael leader remarked: "The Taoiseach has said that the Minister for Health is doing his best. If that is true, how can the increase of 87 per cent in patient waiting lists at Beaumont Hospital since 1997 be explained?"

Amid further exchanges, Mr Ahern said: "Overall, waiting lists are down 22 per cent. That is the figure. In-patient waiting lists are not 29,000; they are 18,000."

The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said: "Does the Taoiseach remember where he was one year ago yesterday? It goes without saying that he was not in the House, as he seldom is. The Taoiseach was in the lavish headquarters of the Fianna Fáil press office for the purposes of controlling the election where he announced, with the dauphin who sits beside him today, the document that committed to eliminating waiting lists within two years."