Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Adams for the constructiveness of his comments. The role of the Cabinet committee on health is to provide a basis for political oversight of the development and delivery of key health service reforms in line with the commitments set out in the programme for Government and to drive improvements in selected areas of priority. It is not the way that it should be at this moment but a number of difficult structures have to be dealt with, as the Deputy will be aware. The universal health insurance implementation group was tasked with assisting the Department of Health in drafting a White Paper on universal health insurance by the end of 2012, the approval of proposals for a risk equalisation scheme and legislation to be in place by 1 January 2013. Today, following the Cabinet sub-committee on health, the Cabinet approved the Minister's proposal to proceed with the drafting of the Bill and it is hoped to have it enacted in the autumn, in time for 2013. The special delivery unit became operational last December and was targeted with addressing the high numbers on trolleys in emergency departments and the numbers waiting for scheduled care.

More recent developments that might be of interest include the launch of the acute medicine programme, which is a new way of working with patients who present urgent or emergency medical illnesses. Its introduction across all acute hospitals in Ireland aims to save 500,000 bed days. Legislation will also be commenced to eliminate restrictions on GPs wishing to obtain contracts to treat public patients under the general medical services scheme. The Government has approved the heads of a Bill to formally abolish the board of the HSE and to establish a new directorate structure for the organisation. The report of the review of the national children's hospitals has been presented to the Minister for Health, who is considering the next steps before bringing proposals to Government. The Minister for Health is pursuing the public consultation to inform the review of the fair deal scheme, which has commenced and has a closing date of 16 July. A great deal of work was done by medical personnel in respect of a number of local hospitals around the country where public consultation will take place with respect to the proposals for future development.

Deputy Adams asked a question about what is happening in the health area. The chief medical officer presented a report to the Cabinet sub-committee last week. Some 25% of children under three years are overweight or obese. We are facing over 250,000 type II diabetes sufferers, which could happen unless we do something about it. Those in the current generation would be the first to bury those younger than themselves because of what is happening, most of which is preventable. It is a combination of information, understanding and changing structures in order to have a beneficial impact on the health of the people in the country. I found those figures staggering and frightening when one considers that a change of attitude, direction and emphasis can have a beneficial impact for so many people. The cost over the course of a lifetime of dealing with one person who contracts diabetes is very high. It will put a burden on taxpayers in the future but we can prevent it if we get the structure right. The work of the Cabinet sub-committee is very beneficial and focused when we receive reports on what we can do. I am sure Deputy Adams shares that view. The question is in the line of what is in the best interests of the people. When we receive this information, Deputy Adams can understand that we must take radical action to prevent the catastrophe coming at us.

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