Taoiseach Bertie Ahern defended the Government's record on the health services as he came under renewed Opposition attack.
Mr Ahern insisted that everybody accepted that hospital services were excellent once people got through the A&E departments.
"There is a problem in A&E and we are trying to deal with that," he said. "We have put huge resources into staff, equipment and the physical infrastructure to address this issue and we are committed to continuing to do what we can to get them all up to the same standard."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that the independent report of the Health and Safety Authority had criticised congestion in A&E units around the country.
"It says this increases the risk of injury, infection and violence from frustrated patients. There are reports of trolleys, chairs and medical equipment being stored in fire-protected corridors."
Mr Kenny said that on Tuesday there were 283 patients on trolleys in A&E departments.
"The Government's response to this has been to fly a kite about the availability of a hospital at St Bricin's, which will not happen now," he added.
Mr Ahern said the authority had completed its programme of inspections in 11 A&E units.
"It has acknowledged that the hospitals are fully engaged in the process of addressing health and safety in A&E units," he added. "The report also says there should be management changes. There should be changes in bed practices within hospitals."
Mr Ahern said the Government was buying beds from the private sector for step-down care for hundreds of patients who no longer needed to stay in hospital.
"I assure Deputy Kenny that this is working and has been happening over the past few weeks," he added. "People are moving from acute beds into private nursing homes. This is a costly way of dealing with it, but the Government is doing it."
Mr Kenny said he had evidence from people to say they would be ashamed to have anything to do with the filth and dirt in some toilet units in some hospitals.
Mr Ahern said issues such as cleaning should not arise because costly contracts were in place, but he accepted that the report highlighted those issues.
Sinn Féin Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that last week up to 300 people had protested outside the gates of Cavan General Hospital, in the pouring rain, to express solidarity with the Irish Nurses' Organisation.
The honeymoon was over for the Tánaiste, he added.
