Hear, hear.

The committee got those notifications.

I had not intended to come back in but in light of the Minister's response I have no choice. I want to put a number of points on the record. The Minister's argument that I and Sinn Féin would consciously and deliberately vote against a public health-led response to this pandemic would hold some water if when I was asked privately and publicly if I support public health measures my answer had not always been "Yes". There are many different opinions on Covid. There are people who believe that, at times, we should hav…

That was a backhanded compliment.

I am sharing time with a number of colleagues. Sinn Féin will support this Bill, as we always do. It is an annual Bill to renew the risk equalisation mechanism that supports the community-rated health insurance market. The Bill revises the stamp duty levy on policies and the risk equalisation credits payable to insurers for 2022. It is a self-funded system. The Bill also provides this year for high-cost claims credits, which will provide an additional layer to smooth the costs of credit allocation by directly subsi…

The provision of paediatric orthopaedic services has been a long-running issue. The Minister will be aware of all of the issues that stem and flow from it, including the impact it has on children with scoliosis, spina bifida and other hip deformities and orthopaedic conditions. We need to get to a space where the capacity is in the system. The issues have come into sharp focus again over the past number of weeks because a number of children have had to go public and talk about their experiences. It should not take …

Earlier this week, I visited Crumlin Children's Hospital. I met with the CEO of CHI and the full clinical team, and I heard, first-hand, the very exciting plans they have for the national children's hospital, which will be a game changer in increased surgical capacity, staff and beds. It will also provide protected beds for scheduled care, which is most important. The team also outlined some of what they need in the next number of years to deal with the here and now. One of the asks that they had concerned the €200…

The CEO of CHI knows the difference between the access to care fund and ongoing revenue funding, as do I. I believe the Minister is to meet with the CEO and her team next week. The point the CEO was making, and asked me to relay back to the Minister, is that this particular fund is not the solution for them. It is not a sustainable solution. Yes, they can use some of it, but the CEO told me that €30 million to €40 million of that can be used for revenue funding. They would prefer it if they could get €8 million or …

This question relates to the cancellation of outpatient hospital appointments and scheduled care and treatment. I am specifically looking for the number of hospital appointments, whether for consultations with a consultant or procedures, that have been cancelled over the course of the last year.

The cancellation of hospital appointments and scheduled care is not sustainable. It now happens routinely. Covid has exacerbated the problem but it happened long before it for which there are a number of reasons. Obviously there is the lack of capacity, as the Minister mentioned, in terms of ICU. There is a lack of recovery beds so surgeries cannot be scheduled. There is a lack of specialist staff, as the Minister mentioned. Finally, there is a lack of step-down beds in the community. I wish to raise an issue with …

On that note, in the last number of months I have visited 17 hospitals. I have met 17 hospital managers and all of their clinical teams. I have met the CEOs of hospital groups. I have also met people who work in primary and community care settings. While some good work has been done through the enhanced community care programme there is still an awful lot more to be done so that we can have admission avoidance in acute hospitals, which is one of the things that we need to do to reduce the cancellation of surgeries …

I ask the Minister to give me a note on Lifford Community Hospital.

This is a very important issue that the Joint Committee on Health should focus on in the new year. Its members should have a discussion on exactly what these elective-only hospitals should or should not be. I have an open mind on it, but my understanding is that elective-only hospitals will be for the regions and for addressing waiting lists for elective procedures. I support its location on the northside of Cork, as it makes sense. I spoke to Deputy Gould on this issue and we understand that these hospitals will b…

I commend Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan on bringing forward this excellent Bill, which relates to an area in which I have an interest. The previous health committee looked at this issue and made recommendations, many of which are included in the Bill. I thank an Teachta Pádraig O'Sullivan for his interest in this matter and for continually raising all these important points, as well as his predecessor, John Brassil, and others, from all parties, who have championed this issue for so long. The first point I want to make…

It is a very disappointing day for all of us for a number of reasons. First, we are again being asked to keep on the Statute Book, and keep in use, emergency powers that we all hoped would be long gone. It is equally disappointing because of the recommended changes that have come from NPHET, which the Government will have to decide on over the next number of hours and days. I say that in the context of the public health advice, which is what it is, and my support for public health measures. It is disappointing beca…

It is all the fault now of the Opposition, the media and others.

Hear, hear.

Vótáil.

Sinn Féin has tabled a number of amendments to the Bill, as the Minister may have seen. When previous incarnations of the Bill were brought before the Dáil we supported them and we will also support this Bill. At the same time, it is important that the Minister listens to what the Opposition is saying on the need for engagement and the need for proper oversight, accountability and transparency when all of these decisions are being made. I welcome the fact that at least we are dealing with primary legislation and we…

What about testing arrangements?