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

Yes, I must go to the Dáil. There has been much talk about the medical card. I hope things have been clarified for people and that they realise that there has been no change in policy. I understand that people have difficulties, which have been outlined very clearly here by some of the members and which will be taken on board. We need to look at the issues around terminal illness and the needs of those whose primary need is not medicine and to devise some other methodology for supporting them in their needs. I want to put on record my gratitude to everybody involved in the Department of Health and the HSE and the men and women who deliver care on the front line and in our communities because they have done an astonishing job of work over the past couple of years.

I am not going to restate all the cuts we have taken but we have improved the service in a real way. I was struck by the fact that nobody at the press conference two days ago mentioned people on trolleys. That problem is not solved but the situation has improved considerably. We will continue to work on our health service and we will end up with one of the best services in the world because we have some of the best doctors, nurses and managers. As the Minister of State, Deputy White, argued, we need to work together, in a co-operative fashion to get what all of us want, namely, a health service in which we can always feel safe and of which we can be proud.