Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

A number of points have been raised. I am glad Deputy Gilmore acknowledges our health service is good and that he agrees, as I do, that the more efficient that service is in treating patients, the better. Ministers and official members of the health committee have made considerable efforts to improve the service and to ensure an efficient structure. I must acknowledge — it is easy to criticise an organisation — that the facts speak for themselves. The HSE has halved the waiting list in respect of those awaiting procedures. While this is not perfect, the waiting lists have been halved. The resources provided have been used to good effect. I accept issues remain in respect of HSE structures. However, it is striving to bring together an enormous organisation which is different from that which existed a few years ago. The operation of such a large organisation and management of 120,000 people is not easy.

The Government provided the HSE with €14 billion in funding for this year. Every other organisation that received money from Government had to manage it. The HSE did not run into difficulties last year; in fact it had not spent all its money. This year, however, at the end of August it had overspent. It is not for Government to tell the HSE how it must implement its arrangements. The management, Accounting Officers and executive of the HSE must do this.

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