Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While we will have plenty of pledges of loyalty from Labour Party and Fine Gael backbenchers, the Minister does not even enjoy confidence among his Cabinet colleagues. Quite clearly, they will not express confidence in public. The Minister for Social Protection was asked on numerous occasions during radio interviews whether she had full confidence in him and she failed to answer the question and express full confidence in him. The Ministers of State, Deputies O'Sullivan and Shortall, and others have also said publicly they have concerns and they were silent in expressing confidence in him.

The Minister came into office with a lot of fanfare and promise. He traipsed the country promising the sun, moon and stars to people. He is no longer on the back of a truck as an Opposition Deputy. His actions and deeds have an impact on people's lives and his inability to work with Ministers and to bring in a proper, sustainable budget has had a huge impact on their lives. Many people think the cuts have been reversed but that is not the case. There was a round of stealth cuts prior to the September announcement and this is having a major impact on people on a daily basis.

I would like clarity on the funding of primary care because the Ministers of State at the Department are saying their budgets have not been raided but, at the same time, the Minister announced, without even discussing it with them, that mental health and primary care funding would be used to plug the deficit.

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