Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

In the context of the introduction of universal health insurance and the establishment of independent trusts, by now the stated position of the Government, nine months after taking office, given what was said prior to the general election and the time the Minister has had to prepare policy documents on his own vision of what the health service should look like in the years ahead, should at least offer a blueprint for us to analyse in the near future. We are awaiting the establishment of the implementation body in respect of universal health insurance, but it is imperative that we see the criteria laid down, with the instructions and parameters for the commission when making proposals on universal health insurance. In tandem, if we are to meet the commitments given in the programme for Government, in the near future hospitals must be identified that would be suitable for removal from the HSE, or whatever structure is left after the legislation is passed, to become independent trusts managed by a local board completely separate from the national body which will manage the health service. None of this has yet happened. Does the Minister know which hospitals will be involved? Will they be large hospitals, or the smaller hospitals which are being downgraded?

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