John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Nevertheless, what he stated about the HSE was absolutely correct. Perhaps we should start there as that was, like the Bill before us today, very important legislation. I vividly recall stating at the time that the HSE was being set up, in a sense, to protect the Minister and would result in less accountability and transparency. I have been proved right.

We have heard delegations speaking about this legislation and the one factor everyone has in common, be they consultants, nurses, patient groups or members of the IMO, is a dissatisfaction with the HSE. Deputies are not happy with the role of the executive either as we cannot get answers to parliamentary questions. I repeatedly indicated on Committee Stage of that Bill that questions would be referred to the HSE. What has happened and do we get any reply? We get a reply from the Minister stating the question is being referred to the HSE and months later we might get a letter.

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