Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

The industrial action which is underway across the public service has the potential to cause serious disruption in the health sector depending on its scope and scale. My main concern is to ensure that the effect of the dispute on patient care is minimised as much as possible and, so far, this has been achieved.

The HSE and my Department are monitoring the evolving situation daily in close co-operation with the Department of Finance, which has responsibility for the public service. Where issues that could impact on patient care have arisen, it has so far been possible to resolve the situation at local level. I want to acknowledge the responsible approach which has been taken to date in this regard by the relevant health service unions.

There is no doubt that, following a period of rapid increase in funding, the health services are now facing the challenge of managing with much tighter financial resources. There is scope within the health system, by reforming the way services are delivered, to achieve more through greater efficiency and concentrating on services that contribute most to people's health and well-being. There is an onus on all concerned - Government, management, trade unions and employees - to find a way of engaging on the reforms which are needed to deliver better services to patients.

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