Minister for Health Mary Harney last night challenged the Opposition to come up with a way to cut queues in accident and emergency departments.
She said in the past year the Government had given top priority to policy and funding in order to improve services.
"There are many diverse factors that contribute to difficulties and delays at accident and emergency. We and the HSE are addressing each and every one," she said. "I have not heard of one single suggestion from the Opposition that would improve A&E services and that we are not already implementing."
Ms Harney said that more A&E departments had been opened in Cork, Blanchardstown, Naas and Roscommon, and soon there would be a new 25-bed unit at the Mater hospital.
Speaking during the resumed debate on a Labour Party Private Members' motion criticising her performance, Ms Harney said that the first national hygiene audit of hospitals had been initiated, and the results would soon be published by the HSE. "We will not sweep things under the carpet."
She said the department was addressing with the HSE the issue of delayed discharges sensitively and appropriately, by helping people into step-down and long-term care places.
"The HSE is also now in tender process for out-of-hours GP services for the northside of Dublin - again, a first," she said. "This will improve GP services for Dubliners and alleviate some pressure on A&E at night." Defending her record after a year in the Department of Health, Ms Harney said it was something of a back-handed compliment that an Opposition party would choose to judge her after the 12 months.
She criticised the performance of Fine Gael's Michael Noonan and Labour's Brendan Howlin while ministers for health.
Ms Harney said she had always tried to take constructive criticism and suggestions on legislation and policy. "I listen especially to those who have taken collective responsibility in Cabinet and who have policy achievements to their name," she added. "But I have very little time for constant carping and negativity from those who have never led, developed or implemented government policy." All they heard from Labour on health was sweeping criticism, negativity and false claims.
She said the Government had done more this year than any since 1970 to make sure that families could go to a GP free of charge.
