Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In this country people usually decry lay people for their failures in finance or any other departmental area but when there finally is somebody who understands medical politics and has a clear strategy for where we should aim and be, he too is decried. I do not claim we are all perfect. We all make mistakes. However, the responsibilities of the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and the Ministers of State, Deputy Alex White and Deputy Kathleen Lynch, are such that they are the trio leading the enormously difficult changes in the Department of Health at a very challenging time. I commend them for their efforts.

This is not easy; it is difficult for many people. I asked the person who has responsibility for home helps in the western area how he is implementing these reductions. His perspective was that he eliminated any reduction in service to those who had to use hoists, were on palliative care or those who had only one hour's home help. Where there is a medical requirement for such a service it will continue to be given. It is not easy and is not as flúirseach as we would wish but changes must be made in the interest of getting this right for everybody and for the future.

See this speech in context