Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate and affirm my full confidence in my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. For the past six months I have had the privilege of working beside the Minister in the Department of Health and Children. Working on a highly complex brief, I have been struck by her courage and determination and absolute commitment to deliver to the Irish people a health service of the highest quality. As she stated with some conviction last night, everything she has done as Minister for Health and Children has been aimed at putting patients first, and that is what she will continue to do successfully for many years to come.

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