Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is correct. I am not here to be negative and I want to get on with this. However, the timelines were somewhat contradictory in this regard because while the Chairman is correct that the report recommends increasing capacity, it also states that we must ensure that eligibility is extended in a very short period of time. That would not have worked. I want the committee to know that I, my Department, the Sláintecare office and the HSE believe that Sláintecare is the only plan on health reform. We are moving beyond conversations regarding my view of Sláintecare to a point where we have an implementation plan and, better still, by the end of the year will have the action plan which will detail what we are going to do and who is going to do it, which will be of assistance to the committee in its scrutiny and accountability role. We will then publish reports measuring that every six months. There will be nowhere to hide in terms of progressing the reform agenda.

I am particularly keen to pursue geographical alignment. It may not be politically advantageous but it is crucial in terms of providing regional integrated care and singular budgets. I will invest political capital in trying to bring that forward more quickly than was originally envisaged.

The Chairman and I regularly discuss the GP contract. It has taken much too long for it to be put in place. I now have an agreed mandate on multi-annual funding, and we will go at this hammer and tongs and try to have it agreed.