'Treat patients on merit, not wealth' - SIPTU

SIPTU today called for the "two-tier" system of hospital waiting lists to be scrapped.

The union is holding its national nursing convention in Galway today.

SIPTU says problems in the health services are not solely the fault of the current Minister for Health, Micheal Martin, but also his predecessors.

National nursing secretary Oliver McDonagh said people in need should be allocated hospital space on merit, and not wealth.

The Dail is debating a motion tabled by the Labour Party criticising the record of the Health Minister.