Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach says he will keep this under review. It is very simple. Girls aged 12 will either get this vaccination this year or not. Those with the means to get it can do so privately and those who do not will be put at risk. The announcement of this vaccination programme did not come out of thin air. It was announced by the Minister for Health and Children and has been withdrawn by her. There is a very simple solution — the Government can go ahead with this. It is not impossible to find the €10 million to allow this vaccination programme to go ahead. Finding the €10 million will not put the public finances into disarray. It amounts to approximately €500,000 across all Departments and everybody in this House knows those kind of savings and adjustments can and are found month in, month out by Departments in respect of a range of projects.

This is a political question. This is about the Taoiseach making a political decision to allow the vaccination programme to proceed and finding the means by which to do it. The Minister for Health and Children made the decision to announce this vaccination programme in the first place, and the decision to withdraw it. I want to ask about the Minister. At the weekend her party dissolved itself and she said her continuation as Minister for Health and Children is at the Taoiseach's discretion. I respect the Minister, Deputy Harney's integrity and ability, but as Minister for Health and Children she has not been a success. She was responsible for the establishment of the HSE to reform the health service. That has not worked.

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