Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

He has worked extraordinarily hard and shown much leadership on it, as have many people. I know it has been a long time coming. The Taoiseach's commitment regarding the end of the year is one that we are all working towards. We will keep in touch about that.

I do not want, for the reasons the Senator outlined, to personalise this in the context of any one decision made in the health service versus another, but there is an opportunity cost in any Department. Regardless of how well-funded the Department of Health or any other Department might be, if a decision is taken to do one thing, that will have an impact in terms of the ability to do another. It is just like running a house: if one decides to do something, it will have an effect on one's household budget. We are constantly grappling with that. If we buy one drug, will there be sufficient resources to all us to buy another? If we do one thing in the disability sector, will that have an impact in another sector? There will always be a degree of grappling with issues of this nature in every health service around the world. I am convinced - the Senator has heard the Taoiseach articulate this in recent days - that it cannot just be a Celtic tiger-style discussion about how much more money the health sector gets. It is important that we resource the health service. In that context, I am involved in the discussions on the Estimates. It is a matter of how the money is spent and how it is linked to outcomes. It is how we ensure that the money we spend in the area of disability delivers for people with disabilities. When I meet stakeholders and citizens throughout the country, they highlight examples of the efficiencies that could be achieved or outline better ways of delivering services.

The Sláintecare report provides a good roadmap. I do not agree with every word it contains in respect of sequences and costings but I think the committee has respected the job I have to do regarding due diligence. The report takes us on a journey for the next ten years, building on progress every year. It would give us a much more efficient vehicle. If one has an inefficient vehicle, one can increase the amount of fuel put into it but it is still inefficient. We need a better vehicle.