Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Having said that, I have no intention of disparaging someone who served as a Minister of State. I merely wish to set the record straight with regard to how Cabinet government and individual Departments operate. The critical point is that we must allay the fears of the people who, at a time of very deep economic crisis, are anxious to see investment in primary health care. Everyone is aware that the way to deliver better medical care to people and ensure they have all the necessary tests is to establish modern primary health care centres close to where they live. In the context of that matter, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, the former Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, and the rest of the Government are at one.

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