Health:The Government "is rapidly moving to the Boston model of healthcare, and I don't believe the majority of Irish people believe in that model", according to Fine Gael's health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey.
He told the ardfheis the current administration's policy "favours privatisation as a solution to all its problems". Its plans are "entirely focused" on building private hospitals on public land.
Fine Gael was not against private medicine but "we do not believe that you must give your Visa card number before you can access healthcare in the Ireland of tomorrow".
The Wexford TD told a packed auditorium that MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections would be dealt with in the same way as the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Fine Gael would establish infection-control flying squads which would conduct regular unannounced inspections to ensure the highest standards of hygiene in hospitals and assign a staff member to have responsibility for every ward, floor and door.
Pledging 2,300 new acute hospital beds, he also promised an extra 1,500 community-care beds.
Dublin Mid West candidate Frances Fitzgerald said the average 250 patients a day waiting on trolleys "doesn't appear on PD posters".
"You won't see an apology to the 40,000 people whose surgery was cancelled between 2004 and 2006. Instead, you'll hear quibbles about whether they were cancelled or postponed."
Dublin North West candidate Bill Tormey said the Government in 10 years had not provided integrated GP services which would reduce pressure on A&Es. "Fine Gael will do it in less than one year because it's not rocket science."
Leo Varadkar, a Dublin West candidate and A&E doctor, said Minister for Health Mary Harney had done some good on MRSA. While there was an increase in standards there was no improvement with MRSA. In her frustration the Minister was blaming everyone else but herself. Wales had reduced its levels of MRSA by 60 per cent over four years, while Ireland's target of 30 per cent over five years was not good enough. "It will take more than soap and water to put this genie back in the bottle."
Fidelma Healy-Eames, a Galway West candidate, said the public had a right to know the extent of the MRSA problem. In Galway, one solicitor's practice was dedicated to dealing with MRSA cases.
Cork South Central candidate Jerry Buttimer, backing the proposal for free GP services for children under five, said: "If we don't stand up for our children we don't stand for much."
He added to applause: "Hasta la vista, Mary" to the Minister for Health. "Your time is gone."
