Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

Will the Minister comment on the difference between the comments of Deputy Dooley and the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, on the "golden hour"? Does the Minister think the "golden hour" is important? I would like to follow up on a question asked by my colleague, Deputy Sherlock. Is the report correct and is the Minister considering closing Ennis, Bantry, Mallow and Monaghan hospitals? Is that one of the issues being considered by the HSE and has it informed the Minister of that? If it is, what is the Minister's view on it?

Must the Minister approve the HSE cutbacks? The HSE has already made a cutback of €530 million, identified after the agreement of the 2009 service plan. Now there is an extra €480 million shortfall, which brings the total shortfall to over €1 billion. Will the Minister approve the cutbacks or will the HSE be free to make cuts without approval? In other words, is there political control over them?

Both Deputy Neville and I pointed out that the number of extra people needing medical cards because they lost their jobs would lead to a predicted shortfall of €170 million and that we would also have a €100 million shortfall in the health levy because people had lost their jobs. The Minister stated it was appropriate that the Department of Social and Family Affairs should get extra money in order to provide unemployment benefit and assistance to people who lose their jobs. Is it not appropriate that the Department of Health and Children should also get extra money? The Minister should fight for her Department to get the estimated shortfall of €270 million following the loss of the levy and the increased number of medical cards. Professor Drumm has estimated a slightly higher shortfall. Should this loss not be spread out over all Departments and spending rather than have to be covered by the health budget?

See this speech in context