Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. The Department of Health, in my view, in a time of great industrial relations uncertainty, when everybody is trying to bring industrial peace, must be respectful of a signed agreement with the IMO regarding negotiations on the GP contract. However, we must also work out a mechanism whereby we make sure all GPs have a voice in the process. I would argue that if one considers my comments on this issue and indeed my actions, specifically a willingness to have formal consultative status bestowed on the NAGP as a building block, it reflects very favourably on the position taken by my predecessors regarding the NAGP. This is a step on a road and it should be taken in the interests of patients. The GPs I meet all around the country say they are members of both bodies. I want to make sure people's voices are heard but I must operate within the constraints of a framework agreement and another body that also wants to be involved. This is the best model I can come up with, on the advice of my officials, to make sure we fulfil the various competing priorities in this regard.

Regarding the issue of the national children's hospital, to which Deputy Kelleher referred, we have heard much in this committee and others about its location. It is important to say that I have statements of support in front of me in respect of St. James's Hospital and getting on with co-locating with that hospital. The statements are signed by the group clinical director of the Children's Hospital Group; the clinical director of the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght; the chief director of nursing of the Children's Hospital Group; the clinical director of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; the clinical director of Temple Street Children's University Hospital; the director of nursing of the National Children's Hospital at Tallaght Hospital; the director of nursing at Temple Street Children's University Hospital; and the director of nursing at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. I have seen the statement of support from the three professors of paediatrics in the three Dublin universities, who collectively support the campus at St. James's. They are Professor Owen Smith of UCD, Eleanor Molloy of TCD and Alf Nicholson of the RCSI group. Therefore, while the debate on the site has been ongoing for so long, many a clinician in this country has put pen to paper to endorse it. I agree with Deputy Kelleher that they need to get on with the project as quickly as possible. This is exactly what I want to do. I want to be able to let every member of the Houses and, much more importantly, every taxpayer and parent in this country see exactly the cost behind this hospital. However, I ask people to take on board the comments I have made today on the fact that the €650 million figure and the other figures in the media do not compare apples with apples. When I receive the definite business case, I will do my own due diligence. I will bring it to Cabinet and present it to the Houses and to members of this committee.

I wish to assure Deputy Kelleher regarding the capital plan. Yes, priorities in the plan need to align with the priorities of the health service and the plans the health service has for the delivery of a number of its strategies. I agree with the Deputy in this regard.

Most of Deputy O'Connell's questions were for the HSE. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, is not here to respond to the issue raised of folic acid. Deputy O'Connell is probably aware that safefood ran an award-winning campaign called "Babies Know the Facts About Folic" in 2015, the evaluation of which is under way to try to inform a new campaign for 2017. I take the point Deputy O'Connell makes and I will ask Deputy Corcoran Kennedy to revert to her directly. The 2015 campaign was designed to address the increasing rate of neural tube defects and aimed to communicate the need for all sexually active women to take folic acid daily, whether or not they are planning a pregnancy.