Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The time allocated for consideration of the Bill on Committee Stage was not used up.

On a motion to recommit, the fundamental issue is that some grave defect of detail has been identified on Committee Stage which would justify the Dáil not proceeding with Report Stage and recommitting the Bill to a committee of the entire House. No basis exists for such a motion. I commend Deputy McManus on her technical ingenuity in tabling the motion which other Deputies have used to try to rehearse the issues that were already decided upon by the House on Second Stage.

This is a transitional measure. The House has debated the principle of the Bill and the wider issues concerning the health service reform programme. The select committee dealt with the Bill when it considered the amendments tabled on Committee Stage. On Second Stage, the Minister indicated this is an interim measure which is being put in place pending the completion of legislation, later this year, that will establish the health service executive which will replace the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell canvassed the question of the local government elections and the issue of accountability. I do not want to re-enter the Second Stage debate but accountability and financial responsibility must be linked. Funding for the health service is voted through this House and not through local authorities.

Deputy Gormley referred to decentralisation and the question of less democracy. The same issue applies. Democracy involves responsibilities as well as powers. We take the responsibility of raising moneys for the health service. Opposition Deputies, understandably in my opinion, continually raise pertinent questions about the administration of the health service in the House but they appear to harbour grave reluctance about a measure which will make the health service accountable to the House.

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