Mattie McGrath Demands Minister Resign Over Hospital Crisis
Mattie McGrath criticised the minister over failures in hospital services and demanded the minister's resignation, citing overcrowding, staff pressure and project mismanagement. He recounted local issues including a very short diagnostic contract and a 102-year-old patient left on a trolley.
Call for resignation
Mattie McGrath repeatedly asked what it would take for the minister to resign, describing the minister's leadership as "unique and catastrophic" and appealing to the minister's conscience and cabinet to act.
Allegations of HSE failure and bed shortages
He said up to a hundred thousand patients have gone without a hospital bed, waiting on trolleys and in emergency departments, and described the situation as bedlam in the HSE. He told colleagues the numbers up to the end of October last year were the worst on record and warned frontline staff are at their wits' end under appalling pressure.
Local diagnostic contract and short-term arrangements
McGrath thanked the minister for visiting local services and praised a Main Street medical centre's diagnostic equipment, but highlighted a privately arranged contract that he described as the shortest in the state's history, lasting eight to 14 days.
Children's Hospital concerns and finances
He criticised the handling of the Children's Hospital project, calling it a continuing failed project and a growing "black hole," and referenced the sizeable sums already involved while warning waste continues.
Appeal on behalf of patients and staff
McGrath invoked specific examples, including a 102-year-old who spent three days on a trolley in a hospital in the Waterford region, and urged action to relieve suffering in mental health services and on the front line. He also thanked Fianna Fáil for bringing the motion and noted ministers' local visits while pressing for systemic change.
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Minister, I'm the same. I want to compliment Fianna Fail and put it under the motion. I want to thank you for coming and visiting places in Planmel and the hospital. A doctor's surgery in Main Street, Medical Centre, with fabulous diagnostic equipment. And you did work hard to get a contract for them to do that privately for people to get those diagnoses. The shortest contract in the history of the state. It lasted eight days, 14 days contract. There's bedlam in the HSE. I thank you, Minister Daly as well, for coming to see us in Tipperary East in your interest. But, Minister, what will it actually take? What will it take for you to resign? What will it take? Nothing pestle. You can laugh if you like. Nothing pestle in the bush. What disaster will be sufficient in order to make you think? Maybe I'm not just up to it. It is one of the great mysteries of Irish politics that you have managed to stay in your position, despite the unique and catastrophic leadership you have brought to your brief, Minister. But, just slowly, could I carry on without betting the law's name taken in vain, please, from some inadequate people behind me, please? Cussing and swearing. If you have to resort to your name, God's name. What else is it? No, please, I mean, it's unbelievable. No, but it's, I can't concentrate. I have a script, I don't know. On a point of order, on a point of order, but may I interrupt? He's actually said I'm insulting. Insulting? Insulting? He's shown no respect whatsoever to the Minister. Please shouldn't cast the stones, because there are times now. I'll remind you before the night's out, when you're talking to your colleagues. So, listen, move on. If I could continue, would I have been interrupted? I'm sorry. You wouldn't have been interrupted. Sorry, and, and, and, using the law's name in vain, in earshot of me. I'm not stopping the clock. I'm not stopping the clock. Just look at, look at the motion so far this year, the Minister, the numbers. Hundred thousand patients have gone without a hospital bed, waiting on toileys and emergency departments. Up to the end of October last year, the numbers were the worst on world record. And they're on top of that this year. I'm out of time, but look, Minister, I'm appealing to you. I'm appealing to you, to your greater, whatever, and the cabinet, and the teacher, to do something here, because it's just been failure after failure, and the frontline staff are just at their wits' end. And they cannot cope, they cannot continue, they're under appalling pressure. Same with the mental health services. And don't mention the Children's Hospital and the waste, and what's going on out there with the waste and the whole sag out in the Children's Hospital. The black hole that you're filling up every day, and you're still not out of the ground, and you continue with that failed project, and you've got three billion. Do you want my left scale? I have been out looking. My colleagues have been out there as well. We have a course, and we know what's happening. So, Minister, please, I'm asking you, just check your conscience, and please have your people. A 102-year-old recently gave three days in a trolley in a hospital in a Waterford region. I mean, have you had any moral compass, any moral fiver at all, to think of the people that are waiting and are being troubled, and being neglected and abused in that case, and think of the staff. Goal mahanchot. Goal mahanchot. says Kelly! Goal mahanchot! ...
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