Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not accept Deputy Martin's premise that significant change is not being carried through in the health area. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, has introduced the special delivery unit which Deputy Martin is well aware is making a considerable impact in respect of waiting lists and entry to hospital. The Deputy is also aware of the fact that even quite recently the comments on health recognise the value of the care given within the health sector. The comments made by the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, have been open and straightforward that waiting times are too long and that people who have to be on trolleys in hospital, unfortunately, do so for too long. The intention is clearly to reduce both the admission times and the times people have to remain on trolleys.

The 2012 budgets were reduced by 3.7% this year in respect of the range of services to be provided. The moratorium on staff recruitment clearly gives rise to challenges in a range of areas. It was also laid out clearly in the 2012 HSE service plan that at least 2% of those reductions should not impact on existing needs and services but had to be generated from other savings and by achieving greater efficiencies. The Deputy is well aware of the range of areas within which greater efficiencies can be carried out and, I hope, will be carried out as people focus on them in the future.

Deputy Martin inquired about unsecured bondholders.

See this speech in context