Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the absence of substance, it is difficult to debate a motion which states that a lack of sufficient resources will not be in interests of patient care. We are debating in a vacuum.

I commend the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is present, on the work they have done and the challenges they have both faced and embraced since taking office. Notwithstanding the unwillingness of many Opposition Deputies and some members of the media to acknowledge them, the Ministers have introduced significant changes at various levels of the health service with a budget that has been reduced by €3 billion and with 10,000 fewer staff. I would prefer if Deputies used this debate to be more constructive and examine issues in the health service such as the high rate of absenteeism or how we could improve the management system. Addressing a myriad of similar issues would be much more constructive than debating the merits of pouring more money into the health service.

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