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

-----by any Member of the House was that made by the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall. She spoke for four minutes and it was not a statement but an open letter to the Minister. She was putting him on notice. She did not refer to him once but she highlighted his failings and those of the Department and the HSE in dealing with the budget overrun. She stated quite clearly in her statement that the priorities outlined in the programme for Government must be brought back into being. These include primary care. Great promises were made but we are now told there are constitutional and legal problems with the legislation and €15 million has been pocketed to fill the gap in the budget deficit caused by the shortcomings of the Minister, Deputy Reilly.

This is not about political opportunism. It is about whether the Minister, Deputy Reilly, is capable of delivering not only on the commitments, but in ensuring the most vulnerable are protected. Quite clearly when the axe did fall it was on the most vulnerable and there is no point in anybody else coming to the House trying to convince otherwise those who were outside Government Buildings two weeks ago and those from whom home help and home care packages were withdrawn and whose packages were threatened to be withdrawn. This is the simple fact. Many Deputies stated this publicly on the airwaves but this evening they will vote confidence in the Minister. They will do so with a very heavy heart but tomorrow they will still be stating they do not have confidence in him. When the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, could not come here this evening and stand up and state she had confidence in the Minister then we have a major dysfunctional problem in the Department of Health and it says much about the Minister.

I did not make any personal insults; I want to keep it on the issue of policy. However, the Minister has failed fundamentally. He came into office as the great white hope with promises and commitments to transform the health service. Every one of his commitments is being continually delayed.

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