John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to hear Mr. Dunne clarify what he said about the differential standard because that chimes with what I heard him say. There is a point which goes beyond this discussion. When we hear that the HSE is making more money available, very often a certain amount that money does not add an extra iota of service. It would serve every interest to say that if an extra €2 billion is invested, X amount of that will increase the cost of delivering the service.

People know what will enhance a service and Deputy Durkan made the point that we could tip over the edge again. All that I am hearing about this morning is people with disabilities and elderly people in need of care and the organisation has gone over the edge. That is a tricky situation and we need to be clear and forensic in our language when we talk about these things. Staff have legitimate and valid expectations that conditions would start to improve but that is not just some staff. People do not care or know who is providing the service, it is simply that the service is there for them.