James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I assure the Deputy that he will have plenty of opportunity to discuss this in coming weeks. I intend to introduce the legislation at the earliest possible time - probably towards the end of next month. As I said in my original response, we are doing this because I want much clearer sight of money. We know what happened during the fair deal issue when moneys were put aside to accommodate people in long-term institutions. Once it went below the level of the regional director of operations it became very difficult to follow it. Moneys were going under different headings, which was unacceptable. I want to be able to know where the money went from the very top down to the very bottom. Hard pressed taxpayers have the right to expect that we, as Ministers acting on their behalf, have full sight of where money goes and how it is spent, and who makes decisions and why.

In addition we will move care, particularly of chronic illnesses, from the hospital sector back to primary care. I am working very hard with the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, in this regard. We want a clear line of vision of the funding for those pillars, whether it is mental health under the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, primary care under the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, or hospital care. When we can see those lines we can move money from one to the other in a very clear transparent fashion. When we have that done, we can look back towards universal health insurance through an integrated care agency.

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