Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Nowhere is that true, even considering what happened in Portlaoise, about which I know because I was Minister for Health and Children at the time. The problem has always been the argument not just at political level but also at medical political level, which has been far more partisan in many respects when it comes to debates about health and the need for change. The real issue is that in many cases it is arguments about where the service might be rather than what is the quality of service to be provided on a universal basis to all our citizens.

Regarding the social partnership model we have, I congratulate and thank the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which has proposed setting up a health forum.

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