James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Deputy Murphy has raised an issue about the distribution of services at times. One need not go as far away as Donegal to find the issues. One need only consider the difference in the services for children with autism in Dublin, north and south, and the disparity in place. I have made it clear to those running the services that they must consult with the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, and then come back with a plan that gives everyone a service rather than a Rolls Royce service for some and no service for others.

Another contention relates to safety. Dr. Philip Crowley is in charge of patient safety in the HSE. He is on the transitional programme as well to ensure any arrangements arrived at are safe. Our primary concern is to have a safe service and inherent in this is the idea that below a certain level is not safe and above it is safe. Any review must examine the case of each individual hospital and this is being done as part of the overall exercise, although not in the formal sense of figures being available for examination. However, I imagine if I seek them, I will get them.

See this speech in context