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UK to ask over 70s to self-isolate for up to four months

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the request would be made in coming weeks.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT will ask people over the age of 70 to self-isolate for up to four months as the UK escalates its fight against coronavirus.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged that the measure is a “very big ask”, but says the move will be recommended for people’s “self-protection”.

He also confirmed that ministers were seeking to give police powers to arrest and forcibly quarantine people who are sick with the virus but who are not self-isolating.

“We are going to take the powers to make sure that we can quarantine people if they are a risk to public health, yes, and that’s important,” he told the Andrew Marr Show on the BBC.

“I doubt that actually we will need to use it much, because people have been very responsible.”

In an acknowledgement of the almost wartime measures being introduced, Hancock said the steps are “very, very significant and they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in the country”.

The UK’s Covid-19 death toll rose from 11 to 21 on Saturday, while the number of people testing positive for the disease passed the 1,000 mark.

Hancock said that people aged over 70 will be asked in the coming weeks to self-isolate for up to four months, in order to protect them from the virus.

Asked if that was in the Government’s plan, he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “That is in the action plan, yes, and we will be setting it out with more detail when it is the right time to do so, because we absolutely appreciate that it is a very big ask of the elderly and the vulnerable, and it’s for their own self-protection.”

Pressed on when the measure will be introduced, he said: “Certainly in the coming weeks, absolutely.”

Production line shift

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also expected to urge manufacturers to shift their production lines to build ventilators, as the NHS prepares for a significant increase in cases of the novel coronavirus.

Hancock said that the government has been buying as many ventilators as it can, but that the UK needs to produce more too.

He said he could not make guarantees that everyone who requires a ventilator will get one, saying: “We don’t make guarantees in healthcare.”

The Health Secretary said a Bill setting out emergency powers to deal with the outbreak will be published on Thursday, and details of what the powers will include will be shared on Tuesday.

He added that ministers are yet to make a decision on whether to ban gatherings of over 500 people in the rest of the UK, after Scotland said it would bring in restrictions from Monday.

“We are absolutely ready to do that as necessary,” he said, but he pointed towards a Cobra meeting being held on Monday when asked when the decision will be made.

Other measures, including school closures, have also been considered as an option to combat the spread of the virus.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster, who has attended the Cobra meetings formulating the UK’s response, suggested that schools would need to be closed for four months if that step was taken.

The UK’s approach to developing “herd immunity” against Covid-19 has been called into question.

In an open letter, a group of 229 scientists from UK universities argued that “going for ‘herd immunity’ at this point does not seem a viable option, as this will put NHS at an even stronger level of stress, risking many more lives than necessary”.

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:02 AM

    Spoken by a man who is clearly way out of his depth.

    575
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:16 AM

    Is it me or has every health minister for the past 15 years been out of their depth? They couldn’t seem to get a handle on the issues during the boom when they had endless money and they can’t get a handle on them now.
    I’ve never been so ashamed of my country than I was watching that show last night. Seeing young children in pain for no reason, a girl left for months in agonising pain and only seen after steel bar protruding through her back got infected. I’d be disgusted if I heard of this happening in a third world country, we have no excuse.

    564
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:21 AM

    Spare us the crocodile tears Mr. Harris. FG policy and ideology has dismantled the public health service and packed the waiting lists and now you wring your hands mournfully at the long lines of misery. (Ditto for FF and Labour of course). The public health system has been gutted to pay for the banker’s debts and to facilitate the old neoliberal privatization agenda. It’s FF, FG, Labour and bogus Independents policy to leave the sick people in misery. They will always stand in defense of big capital and against the welfare of the majority of people they pretend to represent.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:23 AM

    It’s another example of how as a society we have allowed politicians and civil servants to destroy much of this country’s services…garda stations, post offices, rural transport services all hacked away in the name I’d money. We get less and less for more and more tax each year and until such time we begin to think and act a bit more like the French and other nations and get up off out tails and demand they sort things out, we’ll be nothing more than one big ATM for them to plunder. Just remember what we watched last night at the next election when they come to your home wearing the €500 suit and the manicured nails and the promises they never intend to keep. Stay angry at this.

    386
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    Mute John S
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:26 AM

    Don’t forget unions Tony….more responsible for the mess in the HSE than any of the above. We need thousands of administrative staff off the books of the HSE and any professional I know who works in the health service says the exact same.

    283
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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:43 AM

    @Tony 100% correct. This is OUR fault. HSE scandals every month almost..we are passive and let it happen

    226
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:47 AM

    Absolutely John. Like all before him Harris has failed to confront and sweep aside the parasitic unions who are stifling any attempt to introduce reform and efficiencies while at the same time protecting the thousands of underperforming and over-populated staff in admin and middle management. The fact is that there is some nasty tasting medicine to be dished out but like a sick child the unions keep turning their heads preferring instead for the illness to spread. Until the government appoints a hardliner in Health and that person gets the backing of colleagues, the opposition plus the general public to make the sweeping changes that are required then the status quo will remain.

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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:57 AM

    While the government shills try desperately to shift the blame on to the health sector workers for catastrophic consequences of neoliberal government policy.

    The union leadership does bear huge responsibility of course. They have held their unions inactive on the sidelines as our social infrastructure has been ransacked for nearly a decade to pay for the baker’s debts. O’ Connor, Coady etc are long bought and paid for and stand on the side of capital.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:05 AM

    Great talker though, some tripe coming out of his mouth last night.

    113
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    Mute Ed Magnier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:10 AM

    @Dusty Dooley: How does that explain the problems we had with the health service prior to the crash? Surely that highlights that there is something else there adding to the issues, not to say that the cuts didn’t make it a whole lot worse.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:11 AM

    Indeed John..

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:13 AM

    While union members’ fees go into the coffers of the Labour party and into the wallets of union leaders on 6 figure salaries. Great little number. The bankers have nothing on them!

    97
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    Mute Noirin Kavanagh
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:13 AM

    John S, my understanding of it is that it is the layer upon layer of managers we need to get rid of and get more medical staff, fully resourced, on the ground. The unions fight for the best interests of their members and no worker in this country deserves a better deal than the front line medical staff. They are in the main amazing people, from first hand observation.

    94
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:17 AM

    @Ed Magnier:

    The public health system doesn’t work properly because it’s not meant to. If it did there would be no opportunity for private capital to profiteer on people’s medical needs. So the degradation of the public health system is quite deliberate as a former Minister for Health Brendan Howlin has acknowledged. Gene Kerrigan sums it up below:

    “Here is my favourite-ever quote from a politician. It’s from Brendan Howlin, the current Minister for Thrashing the Social Infrastructure.No, it’s not the quote from 2011, just before the election, when he asked for our votes and told us: “We are against water charges.”No, it’s from an interview Brendan gave about a decade after he was Minister for Health. Being a thoughtful man, he had spent some time reflecting on his experience in coalition. He wondered why he and others had failed to deliver “a first-class public health system”.He had since realised, he told author Maev-Ann Wren:”If we did that, there would be no reason for sustaining a private system.”And the right-wing want a thriving private health market. They want, according to Brendan, around 30pc of people to pay for private health products.
    However, he said: “In order for that to happen, they really required the public [health] system to be inferior. Why else, if it was first-rate, would people pay for a private system?”
    That’s the sound of a penny dropping.”

    http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/gene-kerrigan/fiddling-while-the-homeless-get-colder-34179628.html

    113
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    Mute Roibeard O Beachain
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:22 AM

    @Dusty Dooley:

    Banned again Wally? it is almost a weekly occurrence. Don’t worry your fanciful rhetoric always gives the game away.

    Anyways time to get back to work ;-)

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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:25 AM

    @Sean @114:

    “While union members’ fees go into the coffers of the Labour party and into the wallets of union leaders on 6 figure salaries.”

    Spot on. The union leaders should earn the same average wage as the workers they represent. As explained, the union leadership were bought off many decades ago under social partnership and are now part of the pampered establishment. In fact they are the most powerful tool that the ruling class has to keep the working class in check as demonstrated over the past 9 years of brute austerity.
    Now at last and despite the best efforts of the leadership, the workers are beginning to fight as in Luas, Dublin Bus etc and the union leaders are desperately trying to head this off and tie the working class into another collective agreement straitjacket.

    52
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Roibeard O Beachain:

    I was banned for commenting on the upcoming Jobstown trials. And I’m not trying to hide so I’m using the same logo as my previous pseudonym Patches O Houlihan. Not much gets by a sharp tack like you though.

    56
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    Mute John S
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:34 AM

    @Noirin Kavanagh: Exactly my point, we need to break the whole thing down, start from scratch, and put front end services first.
    If this means compulsory redundancies for unneeded admin staff, managers, etc, well if that is the cost of having a functioning health care system.

    42
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    Mute padraig
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:34 AM

    We hae 2hospitals in limerick but all eggs in one basket at UL should have johns hospital as special center for catncer, as traffic two and from would be less

    21
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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:35 AM

    @Dusty Dooley: Not hiding no? lol…. Too afraid to use your real name, or too ashamed?

    13
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:43 AM

    @Linda Nolan:
    I already have several stalkers trotting around after me on the Journal such as yourself, Colin Moran and a host of establishment hacks. And you want me to tell you my name? LoL :)

    But you knock yourself posting guff under your own name if you wish. It will be recorded forever to remind you of your youthful indiscretions.

    50
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:45 AM

    Any comment on the waiting lists btw Lina?
    Or are you too busy obsessing over me?

    48
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:54 AM

    @Linda Nolan:

    You’re not discussing the issue. Your trotting around after me like an obedient hound.

    Now. Do you have any comment on the waiting lists?

    45
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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:00 AM

    @Dusty Dooley:

    “You’re not discussing the issue.”

    Now that is rich from the “copy & paste” king who is incapable of discussing anything. Lol.

    As for “obsessing” about you – wow, from someone who spends every waking hour on this site – I think you own the right to that label as well.

    By the way – keep up the good work, everytime you post you drive people further away from the AAA.

    The Government thanks you for your help.

    12
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:06 AM

    @Linda Nolan:
    So no comment on the waiting lists then? You know, the subject of the article…….

    But it’s good that you’ve acknowledged your obsession with me. That’s the first step towards recovery.

    44
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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @Dusty Dooley: Keep the recovery going……..

    8
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:13 AM

    @Linda Nolan:
    Now you’re getting the message. Our neoliberal state is certainly keeping the recovery going for the bondholders, corporate tax dodgers and vulture funds but most certainly not for little girls with scoliosis. Welcome to the “republic” which FF, FG. Labour and bogus independents have built over the last century.

    41
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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:17 AM

    @Dusty Dooley: Keep the FF recovery going lol.

    7
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:22 AM

    @Linda Nolan:

    I know you’re a Social Democrat voter. But you’re surely not going to vote for FF now that former SD Stephen Donnelly has jumped into bed with them?

    38
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    Mute Sam
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:23 AM

    @Peter Cavey: Well said,another empty apology from a child in a man’s job. I think the ISPCA should now take the management of the HSE in charge as animals in this country are better cared for than humans.

    31
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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:29 AM

    @Dusty Dooley:Lol,nice try. It must kill you that you can’t label me a “government shill”. It must really annoy you to realise that those of us who did not and do not support FG/FF and Labour – do not support the AAA.

    5
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:33 AM

    @Linda Nolan:
    But aren’t the Social Democrat voters in Wicklow now supporting the government by electing Stephen Donnelly?

    35
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:37 AM

    @Linda Nolan:

    P.S. Any comment on the waiting lists?

    31
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    Mute Paddy Mac
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:51 AM

    Your dead right Peter at 29 appointed Minister for Health there’s no way Bruton – Noonan etc. would take this office too cute ! How many years are they trying to sort out our health service ?

    24
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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:13 AM

    @Dusty Dooley: I’ve been commenting on it for hours, if you weren’t so obsessed with me and read through the thread then you’d notice.

    5
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    Mute Seamus Og
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:20 AM

    He could actually improve it if the will was there in govt but then if we had a good public health service who would buy private health insurance. Theyre keeping this way purposely to keep big business happy.

    17
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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:29 AM

    @Linda Nolan:

    Did you make any valid points?
    I don’t have the time to be trotting around after you as you do after me.

    23
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    Mute Turlough O' Connor
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    Feb 7th 2017, 5:41 PM

    Nothing to say on the subject Roibeard?

    9
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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:04 PM

    @Noirin Kavanagh:the unions have a big hand in destroying all public services from bus`s, trains, hospitals etc the people they claim to represent gain a little bit but the only ones who really gain are the unions….

    6
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:21 AM

    Why do they ban wally? surely it’s not for talking shite.

    1
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:22 AM

    Why don’t you use your real name wally?

    1
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:28 AM

    linda you and dusty should get together. He could take you to a flop house for a free meal

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    Mute Soupy Norman
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:39 AM

    Where are the high ranking people culpable??

    Usual story in this country that abject failure by people on 6 figure salaries paid by you and me see no consequence. Figures have clearly been hidden and massaged, figures that hide the suffering of children and the elderly and everyone in between. They are found out now and what will happen…absolutely nothing. The next government will inherit this mess.

    There are multiples of men and women in suits in the bloated management payroll of the HSE, causing alot more harm then good….powerwash them all out I say, a spring clean is required.

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    Mute Jimmyjoe Wallace
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:19 AM

    The English gentleman in the panel nailed it on poor management. The same managers have been in charge for 15/20 years and they haven’t solved it, what makes us think they will solve it now? The face on the HSE guy was priceless as the ennglish guy tore into the HSE

    312
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    Mute Brían Ó Raghallaigh
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:14 PM

    Absolutely agree. Head need to roll and consequences brought to bear on the responsible parties.

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    Mute Bobby Phelan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 6:45 PM

    Time to call a national emergency and cull all the top paid senior civil servants in all areas of this state or its going to get worse

    148
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    Mute Lar Cooney
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    Feb 7th 2017, 6:59 PM

    Minister harris brought a mickey mouse plaster for an open wound on the juggler ! He feels terrible though really awful !

    86
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    Mute Jon Snow
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:01 PM

    Hey Lar….how do you kill a circus?

    15
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    Mute Bobby Phelan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:15 PM

    I blame the people that vote for ff fg labour for the misery they are putting us all through.the irish need to stop being afraid of change and do the right thing and that is terminate the establishment partys and start to have accountability for those that wreck our country meaning jail for people who are found to be corrupt.

    69
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    Mute Deirdre D'Arcy Murphy
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:33 PM

    Agree 100% with u.

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    Mute Anto Curran
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:38 PM

    And vote for who? The AAA/PBP? Sinn Fein? Renua? Not a policy between them on anything.

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    Mute 3monkey
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:39 PM

    @JonSnow Shoot the Ring Master of course.You know nothing Jon Snow.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:01 PM

    @jimmyjoe that guy was Gerry Robinson from Northern Ireland. You should look for his bbc documentary “can gerry robinson save the NHS”? Very good and some of the changes in work practices in the hospital he went into could do with being brought in here. That’s where I think a lot of the problem lies with the HSE

    34
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    Mute Stephen Duffy
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:18 PM

    Harris is becoming the Minister for being sorry..!! Action needed…

    51
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    Mute DAVID DOH
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:33 PM

    Out on the streets we go… In through the gates of Molesworth Street.. ceausescu the lot of them and put in real people with university qualifications that can run a country!!!

    32
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    Mute pat seery
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:37 PM

    If you see heads rolling Brian It will be a miracle where dose the book stop is it Enda or Simon Well done RTE for letting the Good people of Ireland know the truth

    11
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    Mute Paul Maguire
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:56 PM

    @Soupy Norman: this country should hang it’s in shame, people just allow to die, if you don’t have the money your f–k.

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:00 PM
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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 8th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Anto whats FG or FF’s Health Policy?? whats their Brexit policy???

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    Mute John Scott
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:09 AM

    Watched the show cannot believe people especially children are put true all this. My god it is a disgrace. Where was the minister for children Zappone this is What maddens about these people. She was bringing children from Greece or France God only knows what might be wrong with these Children , when you see what is happening to children here. A bloody disgrace. HSE hold your heads in shame .

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    Mute Dusty Dooley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:15 AM

    @John Scott:
    The refugee children didn’t dismantle the health service to pay for the debts of speculative financial capitalism. That was done by Irish people in nice suits.

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    Mute Peed off Electorate
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:06 AM

    94 years of being governed by fine gael or fianna fail and look at the state of our nation.not a situation for either to defend or gloat about.hang your heads in shame

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    Mute William Clay
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:10 AM

    And yet that’s who gets elected each and every time. Something that won’t be changing any time soon

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    Mute Joe Travers
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:30 AM

    Every time there is a health crisis we have the minister responsible saying how sad he is and disappointed. The fact of the matter is he is not doing his job. To purposefully hide figures from the public should be sackable offense. What do politicians have to do to be let go?

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:51 AM

    What’s the alternative Peed off? The independents have shown their true colours while Labour endorsed austerity and disenfranchised the working class in their last term.

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    Mute William Clay
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:51 AM

    Joe, I’d say murder but knowing our legal system…..

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    Mute epo eire
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:22 AM

    An example of how hospital waiting lists start. A year ago i damaged my arm. I went to the doctor who said it woul require an x ray. She sent me to our local walk in emergency hospital with a letter for radiology. When i presented at the desk they said they would to give me an appointment for 4 months time. I said i’ll go to a and e and went to leave. I stopped rang my gp and he told me they have to take you as part of the injury clinic. I was in agony. I went back to the desk and forced my case. I got my x ray within a hour. Sure enough the arm had a break and i needed a cast. I would have just been on a list. The lists are big but most could be fixed at first point of contact from gp to local facilities.

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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:09 AM

    Indeed way out of his depth, has he even began shaving? Mind boggling appointment, albeit clever Leo got transferred enabling him to typically pass the buck.

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    Mute john g mcgrath
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:37 AM

    “It was like this when I got here”

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    Mute Richard Sweeney
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:10 AM

    When are we going to get up off our collective holes and let these incompetents know that this is unacceptable?

    126
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    Mute Peed off Electorate
    Favourite Peed off Electorate
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:23 AM

    We could learn a lot from the actions of the Romanian people in the past week,take to the streets of Dublin and shut the place down and keep doing it until nobody is neglected again and treated as just a PPS Number

    116
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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:06 AM

    Where are the people that were protesting against trump ?

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    Mute Jimmyjoe Wallace
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:43 AM

    We’d rather protest in having to pay a fee extra bob for water than protest about something critical like this. We have our priorities all wrong, too many mé feiners who don’t care about the suffering of others

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:35 AM

    Jimmy. you are so right

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    Mute Bean Ui Mise
    Favourite Bean Ui Mise
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:20 AM

    Fingers should be pointed at HSE and hospital managers as much if not more than the various ministers for health.

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    Mute Darren Mccarthy
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:26 AM

    I bet ya none of his family are on waiting lists….or any politicians for that matter.

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:04 AM

    I gather he was busy, and wouldn’t join the panel of the show. A man with no balls.

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:09 AM

    defending the indefensible, so he’s not that ashamed or embarrassed is he.

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    Mute Brian Murray
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:20 AM

    I can’t believe with all the money the country had in the boom that we didn’t have a world class health system. The government had this money but didn’t listen to the people who knew how to utilise it effectively. It’s embarrassing the health care system we have now.

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    Mute ed w
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:32 PM

    The reason for that was trying to destroy the system and push private health insurance. To make there mates richer.

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    Mute mickmc
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:26 AM

    Maybe it’s time he took a leaf out of Trump book and start to sack a few high ranking civil servants. Shake the thing up a bit. Get a few people off their hole and do the job their being overpaid to do.

    78
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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:11 AM

    FG lying…. Well I never …

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:24 AM

    Just another day in Ireland, just another HSE scandal, just everyone knew about it and just nobody will be held accountable…its all OUR fault for continuing to allow this status quo to continue!! Shame on us

    71
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    Mute Totalitarian
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:20 AM

    Sad state of affairs but the irish electorate don’t seem to want to change. once ff mess up they elect fg when fg mess up its back to ff and so on and so on the cycle is repeated root and branch reform needed to stop the cycle.

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    Mute Colonel Buckshot
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:44 PM

    @Totalitarian: There’s no alternative at the moment other than Sinn Féin/PBP. And if you think the country’s bad now, if they got into government we’d end up like Venezuela.

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    Mute Colonel Buckshot
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:44 PM

    @Totalitarian: There’s no alternative at the moment other than Sinn Féin/PBP. And if you think the country’s bad now, if they got into government we’d end up like Venezuela.

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    Mute Paul McDonagh
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:00 AM

    So we are already THE WORST of 36 Eurpoean countries for access to healthcare, prior to this revelation. We must be competing with Third World now.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/ireland-worst-of-36-countries-for-ease-of-access-to-healthcare-1.2955900

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    Mute Kieran W
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:35 AM

    I wonder is he ashamed and heartbroken over TD’s pay rises this year. I am.

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    Mute Donal Martin
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:49 AM

    Need to stop worrying about Donald Trump and what’s going on over there and start doing their own jobs here

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    Mute Dain Flemming
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:28 AM

    With Apple’s tax each day could we make the list go AWAY?

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    Mute Ed Magnier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:39 AM

    @Dain Flemming: Probably not considering we had these problems long before the crash.

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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:39 AM

    “The first are people who have had procedures scheduled. These are people who finally get the phone call and now have a procedure booked. Secondly, there is a category of people who aren’t clinically able to go to the next stage of their procedure.”

    This is deliberate manipulation of the figures, They send out appointments and dates for procedures to patients waiting and after they are taken off the “official” waiting lists and the “official” numbers are counted – they cancel the appointments.

    45
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    Mute Ed Magnier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:14 AM

    Stop. Voting. For. The. Same. Parties. Over . and .Over . Again. Please.

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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:22 AM

    @Ed Magnier: Yep – but what is the alternative? The left can’t get their act together.

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    Mute Ed Magnier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:29 AM

    @Linda Nolan:I know but I’m ready to give Sinn Fein/Social democrats coalition a shot. If they can’t improve things then I’ll reassess from there. All I know is that these parties have consistently failed to run this country properly.

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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:14 AM

    @Ed Magnier: I don’t think that it is as simple as that. The system is in crisis and radical reform needs to happen, I think that we and those working in the system have to come to terms with that because change won’t come without pain.

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    Mute Ed Magnier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:41 AM

    @Linda Nolan: Fair point, but surely the entrenched parties have shown time and time again that they are not up to the challenge of fixing it. We can’t say for certain that the others couldn’t because we haven’t given them a chance.

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    Mute Linda Nolan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Ed Magnier: They certainly have and they have only made it worse.

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    Mute Joe Travers
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    Feb 7th 2017, 1:11 PM

    Linda.. they say the definition of stupid is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Who do you think could make the drastic changes needed. The people who have had the chance over and over again and failed, or someone new to the game with public support.

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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:22 PM

    @Linda Nolan:well obviously if the existing system ( fg/ff/lab/indo ) isnt working change it there are alternatives and I dont mean supporting a useless ff/fg/indo or lab all who have proven themselves to be useless and not have a clue….

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    Mute Rathminder
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:33 AM

    If the government had the will to fix this, they would provide the necessary money to do so. In a two tiered system, politicians are on the higher tier. I have private insurance, my spouse saw a consultant within weeks and was scheduled for testing and pain treatment in 72 hours. Perhaps this was an exception in scheduling that worked out well. Meanwhile, adults and children wait years for care in the public system.

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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:45 AM

    Insurance wouldn’t be as profitable if the system worked. This disaster is by design. FF and FG for almost 100 years have ruled . They will not make change … We need to make change…

    38
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    Mute Zx5vZulB
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:16 AM

    Why are hospital waiting lists in the news every winter? I don’t want to overpay through taxes for a public service that has a peak demand in the winter and does not organise itself to ramp up for peak periods. Staff contracts need to be ‘re written to allow for demand peaks to be smoothed and temporary bedding needs to be accepted as a consequence of not requiring those beds for 10 months of the year.

    35
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    Mute rory2u
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:02 AM

    Look this is very simple. 85%of the HSE budget is staff costs. The gov won’t take on the unions. You can’t fix a cost overruns by trying to cut costs on 15% of the base cost. Solution REMOVE the Unions. Until that happens we are all passing against the wind

    35
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    Mute Noirin Kavanagh
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:25 AM

    Or Rory2u we could tax the billionaire companies at the proper rate, not to mention the people with offshore accounts to avoid paying their dues to society, instead of reducing the pay of people earning a lot less than our far more useless politicians. No one lives in a bubble and we all owe the society in which we live and in whom we depend a contribution according to our wealth. What you are talking about is reducing the pay of people on average incomes, which is just more austerity, which even its authors have admitted didn’t work and was a “mistake”. People need to wake up to the fact that everyone needs to pay their fair share of tax and society as a whole will be better.

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:10 PM

    @Rory2u I assume you refer to the middle and senior level ‘Managers’ in the HSE as opposed to the Junior Doctors working an 80 hour week and our fabulous nurses doing overtime for zero extra pay!? You need to read the facts that the capacity in our hospitals (beds) has been reduced by circa 40% since 2007!! That is the fact and nothing to do with Unions my friend. Our Health service is been driven down a road that will look for it to be fully privatised..thats the end game

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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:40 AM

    I watched the show last night. Poor people left in severe pain so as the hse can massage the figures to look like they are doing something. Shame on those at the top of hse. I hope those desperate faces haunt your dreams.

    34
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    Mute Aoife Pedreschi
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:58 AM

    What is happening in this country try is a disgrace. Children left in a bad state,left to deteriorate until the damage has gone so far that they’ll never be able to make a full recovery. Its pure negligence. And that poor girl with the spinal pins protruding through her skin. That is like something you would hear about in a 3rd world country. How is this allowed to happen here. Simon Harris is not capable of the job. He had a journalism degree before entering into politics. He has no medical experience or knowledge. We’re in crisis with our health system ,so we need someone with experience to really shake it up from the core. Not some young lad to talks Like a politician.

    33
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:30 AM

    aoife. no minister is capable of fixing the hse. It is beyond repair.

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    Mute Liam John Bradshaw
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:34 AM

    I’m not a big fan of TD Simon Harris, surely he’s been out of his debt in this job since he was appointed. It’s always been known as the poison chalice position, every TD struggles in it!

    29
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    Mute Joe Keogh
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Liam John Bradshaw: Most people would be out of there depth in this job.The only person I could possibly see in this job would be Michael O Leary.Would not be popular but could perhaps help solve the problem.

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    Mute Shane Murphy
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:26 AM

    Another bad call by kenny

    29
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    Mute Aoife Pedreschi
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:06 AM

    The hospitals can’t get nurses because of working conditions,poor pay but a new problem that is a major factor is that nurses can’t afford rent in Dublin. The big city hospitals have been trying to recruit new nurses for the last year but they can’t fill vacancies. So then you have the likes of that orthopedic surgeon stuck for theatre nurses and operations can’t go ahead. Last year a number of Indian nurses were recruited and brought over from India. I’ve heard that a number of them have stated that they think.they made a mistake by coming as they were not aware of how expensive the rent was.

    26
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    Mute Kevin Moylan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:26 AM

    maybe its about time we stop sending millions of euro to 3rd world countries and spent it on our health service.let bono and geldof send their own money out there

    25
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    Mute David Knight
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:36 AM

    O’Reilly was ashamed and heartbroken, promised to make it better, but did precisely nothing. Varadkar was ashamed and heartbroken, promised to make it better, but did precisely nothing. Harris is ashamed and heartbroken and is promising to make it better. The fact that Harris would not meet those poor people last night and tell them to their faces, makes me feel that the results will be the same as for Varadkar and O’Reilly.

    25
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    Mute Michael Clinton
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:34 AM

    People are getting the government they voted (or couldn’t be arsed voting) for. This is going to continue. If you think or are under the illusion that these people give a toss about you or anything other than their pockets and getting their snouts into the trough that is the taxpayer then you are sadly mistaken. You had a chance to flush the toilet so stew in it. And to those who couldn’t be arsed voting , you have no right to complain. You and the idiots that actually voted for these dossers are responsible. Enjoy it, you deserve it and more.

    23
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    Mute Kieran W
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:43 AM

    I did vote but not for any of the ones we ended up with

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    Mute Kevin Mullen
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:08 AM

    This Time next year he’ll blubber out another Excuse, Clearly out of dept

    21
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    Mute Adrian
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:17 AM

    There is NO shame in adopting another country’s policy on health care if it works I.E Sweden

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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:00 AM
    19
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    Mute Jimmy Mc
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:44 AM

    The government and HSE know exactly what they are playing at. As the doctor/surgeon said last night, “its the budget that is priority, not the patient”. Its all about making MONEY!!!
    My feelings on this is that the government/HSE are forceably making patients wait to pressurize them to go private in order for the patient to pay out for the treatments themselves or to take out health insurance to get the insurance companies to fork out for the bill.

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    Mute Linda Hughes
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:17 AM

    Mr Harris sit in the hospitals and see what is going on! A person turns up at hospital saying they are going to end their life, they wait for 9 hours then they are asked a few questions and sent home?

    18
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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:06 PM

    Welcome to the ‘Economy of Ireland’..not a republic or society to be seen any longer…

    17
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    Mute The Red Devil
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:30 AM

    We the people- we let this become this way- we elected these inept people – why???
    We have the ” it will be alright attitude it doesn’t effect me”
    ” the ah sur we have to elect the local lad he will solve our local stuff”
    ” I’ve voted whoever for years”
    And so on and so on…………we the people we have let this become this way- we are to quite- and let these people in power do what ever they like- to serve who- not us – but themselves and their wealthy benefactors- to such an extent that it’s – i firmly believe- that politicians will do and say anything to get elected- get over the 2 years- ( which means don’t do anything to get u in trouble ) collect ur inflated salary and pension and get out- that’s it set for life – why – well that’s the way it’s always been done- I have my money and influence made,things won’t effect me-let someone else solve the issues-
    With this ingrained attitude of entitlement by those in power- this country will get worse and we the people will stand by and let it happen- until that pain and hardship knocks on our door- who will help u then
    The tears of those children are on us the people
    Ask urself this question – honestly- if u picture what Ireland should be like in ur head – and what it is in reality
    Is their anybody who u would follow to make Ireland the place it should be-who u would trust vote for to do that job – scary there isn’t- future is dark huh
    were not living it’s just an existence sums up Ireland today

    17
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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:12 PM

    @TRD 100% correct my friend. Exactly as I said above earlier also. This one is well and truly on US!! Fool me once – Shame on You! Fool me Twice – Shame on Me! How about Fool me dozens of times (Govt&HSE) – Thats a Lot of Shame on US!!!!!!!!

    12
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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:37 AM

    I’d like to know.

    How many politicians are landlords
    How many politicians have private health cover.

    It should be the law that if you step into public service you must use these public services,
    I.e.
    Healthcare
    Housing
    Average public wage
    Transport.

    Could you image Michael o Leary traveling with Aerlingus and using British airways to handle his baggage.
    That’s what’s going on here with the people who manage this country.

    They want to run it, take money and payment from it but are not willing to accept the service levels it provides.

    Take the last mister for health, Dr Reilly, who owns a load of private health clinics, there is a very large conflict on interests there, yet Enda put him in the job and when the public didn’t like him any more , Kenny gave him another big job.

    It’s absolutely sickening behaviour.

    if you voted for FF FG LB In the last 30 years
    You are complicit in the corruption that exists here.

    Please consider the country when you vote next time. No more party politics.

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    Mute Maire
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:50 AM

    Well he might, and all his Predecessors! Shocking Management (Fatcats) Lack of Investment, Cutbacks ( FEMPI) Bed Closures! Matron always knew Best! Secular Management an Utter Failure!

    14
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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Feb 7th 2017, 1:37 PM

    This Chap is a far worse lier than any that went before him in health. He can put on a sorrowful face, look like he is really concerned, say that he is ashamed and all of that stuff. The truth is, he does not really care at all, he is by far the worst we have seen so far, and this particular Government is just about full of dunces . This Buck has no idea at all, obviously O’Brien in HSE is not giving him any heed at all. Harris should resign now, he has no credibility left, talking more and more Bullsiht every day.

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    Mute Christine Klein
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:45 AM

    Well as long THEY dont have to wait all is great… They do NOT care as long as they get their private hospitals paid .. score

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    Mute Moorooka Mick
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:24 AM

    With hospital queues, strikes in essential services and people outside Dublin doing it hard, the country is still on the economic drip despite the ‘post truth” spruiking.

    We just have to wake up and tell it as it is.

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    Mute Ronan McDermott
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    Feb 7th 2017, 3:18 PM

    Harris is a snivelling toad

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    Mute Peter Buchanan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 1:02 PM

    Resign then…..

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    Mute John Scott
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    Feb 7th 2017, 6:44 PM

    Well done the ppt family’s anRTE, well done. Any chance we could get a few of them ladies who spoke so right last night an TV wood stand for election .

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    Mute michael loughran
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:13 PM

    Fuc#ing pr*#k

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    Mute Justin Hanley
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    Feb 7th 2017, 2:38 PM

    Such a ass, he hasn’t a clue like the rest of the government, he just likes parading around like his mammy just dressed him and sent him of to school

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    Mute just readin
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:43 AM

    Would another salary increase for INMO members help this situation ?

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    Mute Sanity
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:29 AM

    Yes, actually it might.
    When operating theatres can only run a few days a week because there aren’t enough theatre nurses, then improving pay and conditions to make it possible to recruit might just help reduce waiting lists….

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    Mute Marlowemallow
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:44 AM

    @Sanity: So nurses that train here generally emigrate to countries that offer better pay and conditions right? Australia, the US? Private hospitals anroad? What would we have to offer to be able to compete with that?

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:44 PM

    @Marlowemallow: Better salaries and conditions?

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    Mute Marlowemallow
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:54 PM

    @Kerry Blake: Yes, obviously Kerry. But that’s extremely vague. Just how much better would be good enough is the question.

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    Mute epo eire
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    Feb 7th 2017, 10:50 PM

    Something to add to the discussion marlow….. Nope? I’m surprised to find you commenting on something without linking it to a racist post by about how muslims are making our waiting list longer and how all the female nurses are the ones to blame with their hair and their make up. No? Are you feeling ok?

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    Mute Ro Brett
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:16 PM

    @Marlowemallow: That’s easy a nurse in Sydney with much better working conditions, not working overtime earns about 50k (euros), so at least an extra 20k is probably a good start if you want to even try and compete

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    Mute Marlowemallow
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    Feb 8th 2017, 8:51 PM

    @Ro Brett: Thanks Ro. That’s what I was wondering.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:13 PM

    He can speak real quick though ,that Simon fella that take,s real practice a bluffer if ever I heard one

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    Mute Christopher Byrne
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:52 PM

    Keep the recovery going…Might have to reconsider returning from Perth. Place sounds like its in a mess

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    Mute xor
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:58 AM

    Pulling faces won’t fix the problem..

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    Mute DAVID DOH
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:30 PM

    No one to blame but ourselves!!!!!! We squander 7 billion per year interest to the criminal hedge funds who imposed an illegal commercial debt on the sovereign entity of the Irish people and we are collectively SHEEP! We March on the roads against a 450 million per year water tax and think we are great fellas,, off to the pub after 7…… But we shrug our shoulders and walk away when this debt which is 15 times more per year, would fix our country in an instant… We could instead go to a hedge fund and say: here’s 7 billion per year for next 20 years… Throw us 100 billion to INVEST in our schools, our hospital,, our PEOPLE,,,, develop our country in technology and future. The multiplier effect is 2 or 3 tines that in 5 years. Any hedge fund would take us…but she*t,,, we’d rather pay a debt we don’t own to billionaires who don’t care about us as much as it seems we don’t care about our own children.. We deserve to be pigs dancing in our our ignorance!!!!! WAKE UP SLIVEENS!!

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    Mute Ailishanseo
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:26 PM

    When oh when will the rhetoric stop & a plan put in place cross party politics to end the present two tier wasteful system & introduce a national universal healthcare service. Private health care insurance premiums are increasing, new hospitals in the private sector are being built with tax incentives…there is sufficient capacity if ALL the resources buildings, technology & human were enabled & supported to deliver health services across the spectrum of prevention, primary & acute care based on need & for which we all pay into depending on income…our present two tier system duplicates & wastes precious resources, yes it would be a radical step but let’s try…we just go round in circles & people are left in pain & despair…

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    Mute Joe Doyle
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:06 PM

    Government liars caught red handed. How many so called facts are being redacted. … not for our benefit anyway. Profumo lied to the House of Commons and paid the price. Have we Irish the balls to do the same. Don’t think so !!

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    Mute Sheelah Biggs
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:56 PM

    Look at Simon Harris, does he have experience in running anything? He looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights! I don’t understand how he’s the minister for anything… not to mind health! Or am I just missing something?

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    Mute Peter Kelly
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:58 PM

    Such a insincere speech from Harris. How can these people(ministers) put their heads to rest at night. All of them just don’t care. Such uncaring people. Takes the media to get a reaction from them. Sad.

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    Mute Ignatius keane
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:44 PM

    Shame on this FIne Gael gov’t and also on the last FG/LAB gov’t over the state of the health service in this country of ours.

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    Mute declan leonard
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:55 PM

    They had to get something positive out….

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:02 PM

    Sadly as per usual government only reacts to a crises when it hits our tv screens. Bunch of wasters….

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    Mute Phil Swan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:10 PM

    Oh it’s worse than the article suggests. Ask Cappagh hospital what cuts they’ve had made just this week. Cuts equal to the money Crumlin just got so erm let’s see how that works out minister sinister. Bleedin jokers

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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Feb 7th 2017, 11:10 PM

    Pleased. Of course he is . A mere Boy trying to do Amanda job ! Yet another failed appointment by Enda Kenny !!!

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    Mute Brian
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:19 PM

    It’s time for a massive clean out of health service. How many ministers for health have we had that have tried and failed to fix this on going farce. We are lurching from crisis to crisis. Maybe it’s time to look at the people below the minister that are running the health service. Ministers have changed but the managers have remained the same. How can we fix problems and practices that have become so engrained that they cannot be changed. Next up are the unions. Why should they have such a say in how things are run. Sure they serve a purpose, but when are involved to such an extent that you cannot fire anybody for being bad at their job then you have a problem. And year after year, decade after decade of this has landed us with the crisis that is now our health service. Blame the various parties, you could have every political health spokesperson from each party running the show, but until you have people on the ground that are willing to implement and accept change without running to their union rep then we are going to continue down this path of chaos. The only people that are suffering are the people who’s tax money is paying for this debacle/service.

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    Mute Catherine Mc
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    Feb 7th 2017, 9:25 PM

    Simply not good enough, at the very least today, I expected all those featured on last night’s programme would have been hospitalised today. Last night they were offered help by private hospitals, should be taken up immediately. As regards HSE management, either sack the lot of them or reduce significantly their salaries and let them earn the rest in reaching work performance related targets. I’m sickened by the state of affairs in this country, but the HSE really take take the biscuit, they give the whole public sector such a bad name.

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:34 AM

    Only the sick and their relatives care about the hse. Every householder cares about paying 2 euro a week for water. that’s why thousands march against water charges and few march against the hse.

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:15 AM

    The hse is unfixable. We spend almost 50% more per capita on health than the brits. The more money the government ploughs into the hse the more is wasted. When the health boards were wound up there were no redundancies. The management in the hse is 7 times what it should be. disgraceful

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Feb 8th 2017, 9:29 AM

    So for anything proper to actually happen in our Public Services, we need to have a TV documentary first for the Government and Senior Civil Servants to act and execute correctly! Thats what this shambles teaches us!

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Feb 8th 2017, 7:51 AM

    ABRACADABRA

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    Mute Michael McMahon
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    Feb 7th 2017, 7:03 PM

    Watched the programme last night it was nothing short of barbaric.Your heart would go out to those people in agony just appalling to people in so much pain and now we hear today that a new theatre is opening in April.fair play to rte keep the cameras rolling looks like the programme got to someone at the top .this is only the tip of the iceberg many thousands more people in limbo

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