Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the transition, the Senator is right that it should be as smooth and swift as possible while, at the same time, taking the necessary time to undertake such a big restructuring of Departments and of departmental responsibility, which includes the important aspect of relationships with State agencies, particularly the HSE. There will now be a new reporting relationship between my Department and the HSE which did not exist before. Previously, the HSE's sole reporting relationship was with the Department of Health. We are putting in place the structures to make sure that operates well. I refer, for example, to the transfer of a very significant amount of money out of the health Vote. The transfer of staff also needs to be done right.

I take the point that it is vital no one gets left behind in that transition, and I do not believe that is happening. Since she took on this role, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has visited services up and down the country. Despite all of the difficulties we are all facing, she has been on-site and has gone out and met with services, and would have met with the particular service in the Senator's constituency but for the introduction of level 5. It is very much a hands-on approach. Those visits to see the specific issues that individual services are experiencing have been incredibly valuable. If there are specific instances, or if the Senator feels any individual is potentially slipping through the cracks, she should bring that forward to myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and we will do whatever we can to address the issue.