Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to express my confidence in the Minister for Health. This debate, to which I have listened, has been described by some of the Members opposite as being important and crucial. Let us be very frank about it: this is nothing but an absolute waste of valuable Dáil time. The motion was tabled by a party that has, on occasion, complained about not having enough time to debate legislation. The motion is nothing but populist political opportunism on the part of Fianna Fáil. The irony that the motion is being brought forward by Fianna Fáil will not be lost on the people. It seems that it is the leader of the Fianna Fáil party who is driving this agenda and who announced that the motion would be tabled initially. It appears that, 18 months since the general election, the trauma of the drubbing that Fianna Fáil received is still having an effect on its members' memories.

Deputy Martin was the man who created the HSE and all the bureaucracy that surrounds that agency. Today the Taoiseach gave an example of bureaucracy in the HSE that he came across in recent days in his constituency. Deputy Martin was part of an Administration that brought this country to near penury. His complete mismanagement of the nation's finances and his complete incompetence at the Cabinet table are precisely the reasons Deputy Reilly, the current reforming Minister for Health, has been forced to introduce cuts of almost €1.75 billion since assuming office. Notwithstanding the budget cuts he must implement, he is actually achieving results. The Minister listed them himself and I will not repeat them because I do not have time. I would love to repeat what he said earlier.

It is not simply members of the Labour Party, Ministers or Fine Gael Deputies who are saying what I am saying; independently minded people are also saying it. People such as Mr. Liam Doran of the INO, whom one would not usually expect to endorse politicians, said in unambiguous language that the Minister is achieving far more with fewer resources. In my constituency in Galway, I have seen ample examples of what has been achieved. We now have an eminent professional in the field of health care at the helm of the Department of Health. He has devoted his entire working life to helping patients and working with them. He entered politics with the singular goal of improving a service he knows inside out. The measure of the support among both parties in government is such that their members are allowed only two minutes each in which to speak in this debate. I have complete confidence in the Minister and echo the sentiments expressed by my colleagues.

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