Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach may say it is not happening, but he should go and ask the sisters, the Daughters of Charity and the Brothers of Charity and those who are providing voluntary services. These organisations faced up to their responsibility. They agreed to take cuts across the board, including pay cuts, and to do the same work for less. However, because the Government has not been able to either govern or manage the sector, the HSE, with its overruns in other sections, has imposed these extra cutbacks on the voluntary sector that provides the best service and value for money of any department under the HSE. The Taoiseach's response last week and this week is indicative of a Taoiseach and Government who have lost compassion and do not understand the difficulties, stress and pressure these people now face. The Taoiseach will go down in history as the one who presided over the failure to listen to the call of these people on the Government to help them. They are crying out for help.

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