Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I note the Minister stated she cannot comment because it has not been published. Is the account published in The Irish Times on Thursday, February 18 accurate? It depicts a lamentable account of mismanagement and disorganisation in the Department, which indicates that some people have too much to do and other people do not have anything to do. It suggests that there should be more of a focus on the main stakeholder, namely, the patient. Will the Minister comment on that? Why has it taken so long to reorganise the Department given that the Health Service Executive has been in existence for five years? Presumably that should have been enough time to reorganise the Department. Given that the functions, in essence, have been passed on to the Health Service Executive, does the Minister consider that 436 core staff are required in the Department? Why do staff spend so much time on Oireachtas business especially as most of our questions are passed on to the Health Service Executive?

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