Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Would the Tánaiste consider a Supplementary Estimate for the HSE and the Department of Health and Children, even at this late stage? He made a decision a few months ago in respect of the budget for 2008 as he was trying to run a tight ship, which is having a huge impact on all our constituents. Virtually everyone in the Chamber has heard about very serious cases involving stroke patients and other people with serious illnesses who do not have facilities because of a decision this Minister took a few months ago. He is changing the Estimates system, perhaps correctly, so we can have a proper discussion of, for example, the Estimate for 2009 next year. I presume that is what the Tánaiste means. Is it not time, even at this late stage in this term, to consider some sort of Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Health and Children?

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