Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Given that the Health Service Executive has compounded the damage done by the imposition of the recruitment ban on front-line staff in the latter period of 2007 through the introduction of its employment control framework that kicked in on 8 January and which is already having a damaging effect, will the Taoiseach indicate when the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill and the health information Bill will be brought before the House? They were promised in the 2007 autumn programme for this year but, as the Taoiseach is noting from scanning his notes, we are now told that it is not possible to indicate when either will be ready. Will the Taoiseach explain to the House why this is the case? Their importance hardly needs to be underlined.

See this speech in context