Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I know of no other health ministry in the world that has an unlimited budget, no matter how it is funded, whether by private insurance, social insurance or taxation. There are limitations on what we can spend. When there are limitations, we must make choices. In particular, we must seek to target resources at those who need them most. That was the essence of the decision-making process in which the Government engaged. It did not make this decision lightly. We would have preferred not have made this decision but, quite honestly, we do not have alternatives with the kind of——

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