Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I have no difficulty in allocating more time for questions on this issue. I am more than happy to answer any questions Deputies have. Subject to agreement, I am pleased to take questions for half an hour, if that is in order. I wish, however, to put matters in perspective. At the start of 2005, the former health boards announced an overspend of more than €200 million for the previous year and there was not a word about it in this House. We must put this issue in context.

To answer Deputy Kenny, the chief executive officer of the HSE is that body's Accounting Officer. It is right that those with responsibility for delivering services should also have responsibility for finances. We have seen through the health boards that it is not good management or practice that one group should be responsible for spending money and another charged with accounting for that to the Oireachtas. A good system has been put in place and I have total confidence in Professor Drumm and his team to deliver an effective health care system in line with the money the Oireachtas can make available in any one year.

I propose we amend the Order of Business to provide for 30 minutes of questions after the initial statements from the spokespersons for the Opposition parties and the Technical Group.

See this speech in context