Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

This week we learned that waiting times for operations have increased by more than 47% for people waiting longer than six months, dramatically so within the past nine months. The related legislation is the health governance Bill which is intended to replace the governance of the HSE. This is urgently required because as things stand nobody knows who is in charge of the health service. Morale is at a very low ebb. The Taoiseach might clarify whether the special delivery unit is currently acting ultra vires in regard to whom it reports to. My understanding is it reports directly to the Minister. There is a definitive legislative framework governing health since the enactment of the HSE Bill. The Minister caused the dismissal of the HSE board, so to speak, but the essential legal governance structure is still in place. There is an urgent need for clarity which the publication of this Bill would provide in respect of the direct line of who is in charge and who is responsible and accountable to whom.

Given the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, is present in the Chamber, when does the Taoiseach expect to publish the Bill on the amendment of the Constitution, known as the children's referendum Bill? Is there a timetable?

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