Mr. Michael Harty:

We have gone through several years of austerity and the focus of this budget must be more on efficiencies and using existing resources better. There is no need for front-line health cuts. A recently published report from HCCI detailed immediate savings that could be achieved in 2014 totalling €117 million. That is roughly equivalent to the expected overspend by the HSE this year. The proposals in that report entail no cuts to front-line services. It gives patients what they want and makes significant savings for the Government. We must seek efficiencies and make our current budget go further. There is no need or room for front-line cuts to the health service.