Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure what I can say that I have not already mentioned as regards structures, but I should remind everyone that I was a member of the special health committee that eventually developed Sláintecare. One of the points that I made time and again was about the need to revert to original structures where there was local accountability and, as staff throughout the health services have indicated to me for many years, they got more satisfaction and were more dedicated. I did not get what I wanted because everyone did not agree. It was an all-party committee and it can be very difficult to get a committee to agree. That is how the camel was invented in the first place.

However, we did get some part of what we wanted and there are regional structures in place. I hope that will work out, with the benefit of local knowledge and a response at local level. It cannot be done without that aspect. Some of my perspective on this comes from my experience as Opposition health spokesperson in very difficult times.

The final point I wish to raise is one I have raised on many occasions in the past. It relates to the ability, or lack thereof, to make a comparison between a private hospital and a public hospital within the system, size for size, consultant for consultant, doctor for doctor and so on. Somebody should be able to tell me what the cost is of running one system as opposed to the other. When I tried to engage in that discussion over the years, I was repeatedly told that the public sector is more expensive. I cannot understand how that is the case.