Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The health system is a failure. When the HSE was set up, the people of the country were promised a world-class health system. These were the very words spoken by the Minister for Health and Children. We have world-class doctors and nurses but we do not have a world-class system to support them. We are now told by the Minister for Health and Children that the cut expected in the budget will be of the order of €600 million to €1 billion. This announcement was made without any commitment not to affect front line services. Front line services are what save lives. They provide care at the front line. The Government has always taken the easy option in distinguishing between waste and service. I ask the Taoiseach to give an assurance to the Dáil and the people of the country that, whatever cutbacks are made in the health budget for 2011, they will not have a direct impact on front line services.

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