Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is very difficult. The task we have given the Department of Health is to bring about fundamental transformation, to abolish the HSE, to subsume responsibility back into the Department, to create an integrated health system, to develop a system of primary care similar to the European model and to introduce universal health insurance within the next five years. At the same time, we have to undertake this fundamental change with a significantly reduced budget and reduced staff numbers. It is a very great challenge for those involved and we will assist them in every possible way. I know this committee will assist in achieving those challenges.