Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kelleher for giving the House a chance over the past two evenings to discuss the current state of our health service. It is in the state it is primarily because of the very flawed budget presented to the Dáil last December, the flaws of which Deputy Kelleher has highlighted on numerous occasions in the Chamber and at meetings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. The flaws were also highlighted last June by the then CEO of the HSE, Cathal Magee, without any action being taken by the Minister, Deputy Reilly.

Flaws were also highlighted by the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, who in her speech this evening never mentioned the Minister. She never once referred to the Minister by name. She wrote to the Minister and identified €124 million worth of savings in the Department that were, to use her phrase, within the purview of the Minister which had not been identified and made. As a result, three weeks ago tomorrow the Minister announced €135 million worth of reductions. However, tonight the Government amendment to the motion praises the Minister for the effective manner in which he manages the resources, despite the fact he will make reductions of €135 million.

This reduction was announced three weeks ago but we still do not have specific details on how it will impact on the ground in each region. On two occasions HSE meetings were cancelled or postponed because the script from the Department of Health kept changing with regard to the cuts. We must deliver €135 million in cuts within three months. This is €45 million a month because of a flawed budget which could have been corrected in February when Deputy Kelleher first identified the issue.

There will be a significant vote of confidence in the Minister this evening because of this effective handling of the Department. However, all of the Deputies who will vote confidence in him when the detail arrives on their desks in the coming weeks of cuts to home help services, to hospitals, to community services-----

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