Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It goes back to the point that no one on the Government benches will accept responsibility for anything. The current situation was signed off under the Taoiseach as Minister for Finance, with reckless spending and no management of the value for money secured from what was spent over the past number of years. Lehman Brothers is not responsible for the fact that there will be a serious reduction in home help packages, no walking aids and no wheelchairs next year.

The minutes of the HSE meeting on 9 April were given to Deputy Andrew Doyle in response to a question. These point out that the HSE, set up by the Government and reckoned by the Minister for Health and Children to be a once in a generation move to provide world class health services, is now being deconstructed by the same Government because it has failed. During its deconstruction, McKinsey consultancy was employed at a cost of almost €1 million to point out how it should be done. The minutes of the board meeting state it discussed key design principles and requirements to maximise organisational effectiveness and deliver greater integrated service management. It has cost almost €1 million to deconstruct something described as a once in a generation move to provide world-class health services.

This morning, President Sarkozy stated there should be no more bonuses or dividends and the same is being stated in the United States and Britain. Here we are, under the tutorship of the Taoiseach, having agreed a 20% increase in bonus payments for the HSE when many areas of our health services are faced with decimation, particularly those dealing with the old, vulnerable, weak and voiceless. The Taoiseach stated there would be no cutbacks or 3% payroll reduction in frontline health services. If the Taoiseach proceeds down this line, whatever else he has to do with able bodied people he should not attack the old, weak or vulnerable.

I would like the Taoiseach, as director of affairs in the country, to state that based on its performance and what we know will happen next year, the bonus scheme for the HSE will not be paid. Allowing another €1 million to be spent in consultancy, as was pointed out to Deputy Doyle, in breaking up what the Minister for Health and Children stated would provide world-class health services speaks for itself in terms of the type of management, effectiveness and non-acceptance of responsibility of this Government for anything that happens. It is all independent advice. Will the Taoiseach deal with this?

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