Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On that point, it would not be fair to say the members of the committee were of that view in the context of health. We recognise that health is a public service and that the people who work in it deserve tremendous credit, not just for their professional commitment but also for the work they do outside that and the care they give to patients and each other. It is a bit unfair to say that politicians as a general matter view health that way. The Ministers have said and all of us recognise that health is not an ATM and that one cannot keep putting the card in and taking money out.

Mr. Doran spoke about the floor. Our meeting today has provided the INMO with a platform to raise and articulate issues. From our perspective as a committee, it is important to express back to the Department and the HSE the views we have heard today. It is important as part of our quarterly meeting with the HSE to invite it to comment on the INMO presentation today. We will ask its representatives to do so. We will present to the HSE a copy of the INMO presentation and a transcript of the meeting with a view to asking it to reply as part of its engagement with us at the quarterly meeting in July.