Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I wish to announce for the information of the House that the President, acting on my advice, has accepted the resignations of Deputies Mary Harney, Noel Dempsey, Dermot Ahern, Batt O'Keeffe and Tony Killeen as members of the Government. I advised the House yesterday of the resignation of Deputy Micheál Martin. I want to put on the record of the House my gratitude to each of them for their distinguished contributions to the work of the Government and the country.

The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, has advanced a strategic approach to tackling the problems in our health services. She has done a first class job and shown extraordinary endurance and intelligence in dealing with our most challenging portfolio.

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