John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Clearly she has full confidence in the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin.

The Tánaiste should no longer ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to climb up lampposts with posters saying "One-party Government — no thanks." It seems we now have one-party Government. The Progressive Democrats is indistinguishable from Fianna Fáil and I no longer know its purpose in Government. It has become obsolete — what is it doing there? Is it holding people to account? That party has shirked political responsibility.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, spoke of spin, but who are the masters of spin? I was at the launch of the 2001 health strategy. It was like a discotheque with all its blazing lights. The Minister claims we are making a mistake trying to distinguish between full eligibility and the question of legality and illegality. These are important points and the Minister was told about the matter. He was clearly told in 2001 when he issued medical cards to the over 70s. That was a nice bit of spin on the Minister's part. While he was criticised in the Brennan report about this matter, it was done because these are the people who vote and the Government parties reaped a harvest afterwards. In 2003, the Minister had the legal opinion from the former South Eastern Health Board. Is he claiming nobody knew about that matter? Of course people knew about it.

The former Minister for Health and Children was late for the meetings. Unfortunately, meetings are not good for spin. They are matters of substance that take place away from the media spotlight. As a result it would appear they were treated with a certain amount of disdain by the Minister. However, his Ministers of State and advisers were in attendance. The Ministers of State, Deputies Callely and Tim O'Malley, told us they assumed the Minister, Deputy Martin, knew about the matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Callely, said he had a conversation with the Taoiseach when going through the lobbies, which indicates the seriousness he attached to the subject. The Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, said he assumed it would happen as a matter of course. However, I have repeatedly asked about the follow up. These meetings were minuted and as is normal in such circumstances, matters arise. Did anyone ask what was happening with this matter? Did the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, ask what was happening with the legal opinion? As nobody asked the fundamental question there was a dereliction of duty. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will not assume his political responsibility for that debacle.

Where do we go from here? Irreparable damage has been done to the relationship between Ministers and civil servants. Where do special advisers fit in? The Tánaiste came to yesterday's meeting with her special advisers. I would like her to repair that damage.

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