David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We do not need the message to go out to citizens, patients and those who work in the healthcare system to be that it is now about consolidation when there is a lot of work still to be done to get to a point where we can deliver on the key Sláintecare proposals. One of the consequences of, one, deliberately underfunding the health service and, two, having no additional money for new measures means that we do not even stand still. Even to stand still for next year, the HSE will have to run a very significant deficit. That is just to stand still. When I hear about a recruitment embargo and consolidation, it is not the message that should be sent out. Does Mr. Gloster accept that to deliver on Sláintecare to make sure people have alternative care pathways, continuous year-on-year investment in primary and community care is needed?