David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Moloney said, "Absolutely not." My colleague put it to Mr. Moloney that, "Bernard Gloster and Robert Watt both told the Joint Committee on Health" that this was the case and Mr. Moloney replied: "I am not aware of what that is based on." How could Mr. Moloney not be aware of what it was based on?

For me, the debate shows me how bizarre all of this is when, again, it was stated that two thirds of the deficit of this year have been recurring, which have been pointed out to us by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Mr. Moloney said: "That position has never been presented to me." How could that be the case?

Deputy Donnelly is here as the Minister for Health, the head of the HSE has come in here and the head of the Department of Health has come in here and said, we have a very big deficit for 2023, it is caused by inflation and increased demand, and most of it is recurring and needs to go into the base for next year. Yet, the Secretary General of the Department of public expenditure, who sets the budget with the Minister says, "That position has never been presented to me", after it was put to him when the majority of the deficit would be recurring. Was that position put to the Department of public expenditure and reform?