Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I will not say it, but I cannot believe that this has been put into print. I support the motion. I am amazed it has taken this long to drag out the publication. As regards the health services, delay or procrastination in evidence over a number of years are not in the interests of obtaining the highest quality of standards and should be looked at again carefully.

I again compliment those within both the public and the private health services who have done a good job. Those who do a good job whether in the public or private sector and who go out of their way to give a good service towards achieving the highest possible standards have been let down by those who do not. Unless the people whose task it is to enforce the standards do their job, the whole country is being let down, including the Houses of the Oireachtas and all the institutions.

I support the motion. I ask the Government to withdraw the amendment. I accept the spirit and the letter of the motion and the reasons for which it was put.

See this speech in context