Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Putting patients first must be the priority in respect of any reform of our health services. The services require continuing reform. In light of our economic circumstances, any suggestion that we can improve services or maintain existing levels of service without reform or addressing the need to have far more flexible work practices and redeployment is questionable. Addressing the needs of the health service is an absolute must in the context of public service reform and in the interest of those of us interested in promoting public services and showing we can be sufficiently responsive to the needs of the people. That presents a continuing challenge and commitment to which all social partners have subscribed and to which we need to give practical and visible effect. It is important that everyone has a positive agenda that will help provide services to a greater extent than is possible under present arrangements and agreements and help to provide these services to the extent and within the timeframe the people expect given the moneys hard-pressed taxpayers are providing for services.

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