James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and members of the select sub-committee for their time and contributions. We are all aware that we face a very challenging year. We have shown, by dint of the improvements in outpatient and inpatient waiting times and the emergency department trolley counts, that we are improving the service. I accept and acknowledge that it is not quick enough for many of our citizens, but as I have often said, health can be compared to a great tanker at sea and one cannot turn it around on a sixpence - for those who can remember the sixpence.

I thank the representative from the HSE, Mr. Tom Byrne, and Ms Fiona Prendergast from the Department of Health.