Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

We are not talking about interference but about the Minister telling us the facts of how and why something is being done, something to which people are entitled. If the Minister of State was in my situation, representing a constituency such as Cavan-Monaghan — the Minister for Health and Children did not even think it worth her while to visit either hospital in the area — he would wonder why we have Ministers at all. I wish to warn him, before the Bill is finalised, that there must be clear political accountability to ensure that whoever is in charge does not get carried away.

We need the infrastructure, and we make no apology for saying this. I will support it 99% of the way, but I am scared, from what I have learned of the new HSE, that the powers to be given to the NRA will be similarly abused. That is not good for democracy or how the country is run.

See this speech in context