Fine Gael's spokesperson for health and children, Ms Olivia Mitchell TD, has called on the Government to publish the Hanley report on the health system.
The call comes following the cancellation of scheduled surgery at Beaumont Hospital after more patients than normal turned up at the hospital's A&E department over the weekend.
Ms Mitchell said "the overcrowding crisis at Beaumont Hospital proves that Health Minister Micheál Martin must publish the Hanley Report as soon as possible.
"The time for talking about reform of the health service is over and Health Minister Micheál Martin must now take action. He must immediately publish theHanley Report on the configuration of hospitals and their manpower needs".
She said: "There is an undoubted need for reform of the health service, but it can no longer be used as an excuse for current inaction".
"The fundamental underlying cause of the problem which manifested itself yet again at Beaumont this weekend is a capacity shortage. That is an inescapablefact. The Government's own reports have repeatedly highlighted the need for an additional 3,000 beds in the health service," she said.