Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That was a nice speech from the Minister but it did not answer any of my questions. Deputy Shortall has clearly shown that the emperor has no clothes. On four occasions in public the Tánaiste could not express his support for Deputy Shortall and her stance. It is true that people will have access to primary medical care, provided they are in the Minister's constituency or they have his ear or a clinic has been jumped up the list of more than 200 locations and is included in the top 35.

This Government has been in power for the past 18 months and the Labour Party has not even succeeded in having powers of responsibility delegated to the junior Minister with responsibility for primary care. How can Deputy Shortall's replacement in the Department expect to be able to deliver on any equitable health policy, particularly when he or she will have to deal with a senior Minister who stated last night that pressure is only for tyres? How can junior Ministers deliver? Is there any point in the Labour Party appointing a replacement?

See this speech in context