Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is a pity the Minister was not as direct about the intention of introducing savings by reducing the administrative bulge in the HSE, which has been recognised by the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach has not answered my question about his contingency plans for the provision of medicines to people all over the country in the event of a withdrawal from the GMS by community pharmacists after 1 March. This is exercising the minds of people in the Taoiseach's own party as well as every other party. I recognise that it is important that savings be introduced. If the HSE and the Minister for Health and Children are so confident of the irrefutability of their figures they should not have anything to fear from arbitration. I commend the actions of Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, in appointing an arbitrator to deal with the broken promise about Cork Airport. Independent arbitrators have been appointed all over the place. This is a matter of genuine concern——

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