Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I thank everyone who contributed to this motion. The health strategy was always the basis for the Government's blueprint for the health services. If one reviews the strategy in respect of care of the elderly, it becomes clear the Government has failed miserably. There is no doubt about this.

Earlier on, Deputy Sexton attempted to play the race card in a slightly more subtle fashion than the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. All we stated last night was that, the €1,000 to be spent on child care was expected to be spent in accordance with the budget. I was surprised that Deputy Sexton attempted to play this race card again when the mantra of her party, the Progressive Democrats, has always been transparency, accountability and value for money for the taxpayers' money. At budget time, it was expected that this money would support child care. In stating this, we are not being racist. We are simply pointing out that if the budget states that taxpayers' money will be spent for a particular purpose, the Government should spend the money for that purpose. The same principle applies to the €56 million whose position in the accounts book the Government was unsure of last week and the €156 million wasted on the PPARS system last year. This is why we raise these issues in the House.

See this speech in context