Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the witnesses. A reference was made a few moments ago to the cost of Sláintecare and I was quite taken aback at the figure used. I ask that Mr. Barnes provide me with details of how that figure was reached. I am not asking him for it today but could he send it on in correspondence? It is very much out of line with costings that have been done in the past couple of years.

On the issue of equity in our public health service, and no doubt recent events have shown up the huge gaps and weaknesses in that regard, there is the question of reducing the cost of living as result of the high cost of healthcare and thus freeing up disposable income. Would Mr. Barnes accept there is a strong argument for investing in good quality public services as a means of stimulating the economy? Aside from the need for a stimulus package to reboot business, there is a strong argument for investing in and making public services universal, including making housing affordable, as a means of reducing the cost of living. Before the pandemic arose, the business community and IBEC talked about the high cost of living and impact on wages. What is Mr. Barnes's view on the need to invest strongly in public services to make them universally available, as is the case in most other European countries, as a means of stimulating the economy and reducing the cost of living?