Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

Politicians need to take more responsibility not less. The public expects us to take on more decision making and to take responsibility, not to give it away. What is needed is an authority to help with day to day implementation and getting projects completed, and to give good advice. We are being deluded that the HSE is a separate authority when it is not. The Health Act 2006 that set up the HSE clearly stated that its job was to implement Government policy and that the CEO of the HSE could not question Government policy. The con job in recent years is that the HSE sets policy when that is not the case — the Minister sets it. In this case we are handing over all responsibility for transport in the greater Dublin area and I have concerns about that. I do not say the HSE has worked either.

We are told that branding will be left to the transport authority. Deputy O'Dowd has asked questions about the millions of euro being spent on Transport 21 plans and advertisements. I saw one of the advertisements last night and it is nice to look at. It made me feel good but we do not need to spend €3 million or €4 million on that. We could use the money to fix some of the problems.

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