Mr. Liam Doran:

On GDP and spending on health, we refute the suggestion that we are overspending. The comment from Brussels last week must be challenged by the Department. We do not overspend as a proportion of GDP. The last OECD figure was 8.9% and there was a 9.6% figure. Germany spends 11.2%. The very people who are telling us to cut back are spending more than we are. We do not overspend.

Politically, I say the following. I acknowledge the committee's position, but I refer to the wider political population. I sit in front of the committee today to say there is no political support for a world-class public health service. It is viewed by too many politicians as a waste of taxpayers' money and as inefficient and ineffective. There are 102,000 people working in the health system, 99.9% of whom went to work this morning to do a good job. They do a good job in impossible circumstances and they need support, not condemnation.