Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Having listened to the Deputy, I am simply stating, as a former Minister for Health and Children with some knowledge of the reforms that are taking place, that it is time we were prepared to acknowledge that there are service providers' interests which also have to be taken into account if we are to make the progress we need to make. It is not simply a question of the Government or the Opposition not providing sufficient resources.

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