Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, before the House tonight. It gives me no pleasure to be obliged to so do. As far as I am concerned, each Minister and the Government collectively are in the dock in respect of their handling of the economy and the nation since their election. All the aforementioned Ministers and the Government are here under false pretences. They were elected on a programme of commitments, which included burning the bondholders, not giving another cent for the banks and the protection of the vulnerable. Each Minister and the Government collectively have reneged on all those commitments and I reiterate they are here under false pretences.

However, the Minister for Health has a specific case to answer. I believe the Minister has a conflict of interest because he is involved in the private nursing home business while at the same time, he is presiding over the Health Service Executive and a health service that is closing public long-stay beds nationwide. I believe this is a serious position and constitutes a conflict of interest for the Minister. It certainly is one reason I support this motion this evening. In addition, the recent cuts announced by the HSE and approved by the Minister can only be described as a descent into barbarism. The most vulnerable, the sickest, the elderly and people with disabilities were deliberately and knowingly targeted and this runs counter to the election commitment that the most vulnerable would be looked after and protected. I support this motion.

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