Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There are difficult issues facing this State and there were many difficult issues facing it when this Government assumed office 12 months ago. It received a massive majority and was afforded great trust in seeking to resolve our difficulties. The Government gave the distinct impression that not only would there be an easier way than the austerity of the previous Administration, on which it did a U-turn immediately on assuming office, but that it would overhaul the HSE and deliver a much improved health service.

I will allow the Minister some more time than the one year which we are talking about today but not the ten years that he sought last night. If the first year is anything to go by, we will not be enamoured by the next four either. The health service is one which from 1997 to 2011 saw improvements, as many speakers have said, in tackling cancer and improving survival rates and similarly death rates from cardiovascular disease have fallen massively. The health service had seen much capital investment across the regions such as that in my county in Offaly where there is a new state of the art hospital in Tullamore and community nursing units in Birr, Tullamore and Edenderry, which combined now face €22 million in cuts based on the service plan published yesterday. The health service saw some 170,000 people treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund up to 2010, with waiting times having been greatly reduced or eradicated in many instances.

None of us under-estimates the various the challenges across Departments. Many of us agree with the thrust of policy geared towards meeting our commitments to close our income and expenditure deficit over the period of the next three years. Where we differ is on the specifics and the methods used to meet these commitments. We all hope that whatever methodology is used is successful. We all share the electorate's aspiration that this Dáil and even this Government will resolve our difficulties, chart a way out and attract investments for our youth. We acknowledge, compliment and congratulate everybody concerned with yesterday's announcement in Dundalk. We also acknowledge, compliment and congratulate everybody concerned with the visit of the Vice President of China to this country last week; we will now be allowed to exploit the great opportunities that exist between our two countries and we will flourish much more from that than they will. Parallel to that, we must prioritise State services to care and provide for those most in need.

Who is most in need in our society or in any society only the poor, the sick the aged and children. We in Fianna Fáil would seek to prioritise health and education. It is at that juncture that our shared aspirations evaporate. It was budget 2012 that signalled this. This Government in delivering that budget, for the first time made its own decisions and, most particularly, decided on its own priorities. Since then as further details have emerged it is patently obvious to us and to all that education and health have suffered badly. It is necessary for us to bring forward motions such as this, which highlights the crazy decisions, crazy choices and unbelievable priorities which are having such a devastating effect on those most in need. We hope the Government will recognise its errors and will recognise, as the Minister, Deputy Quinn, said, that they are out of practice and out of touch-----

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