James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. For far too long there were too many people who were quite happy to describe the problem but failed to do anything about it. Earlier this year people indicated there would be an inability to keep the budget, alluding to the two issues in particular of drugs and insurance. The insurance matter has been dealt with and the drugs issue has been dealt with comprehensively, albeit a little latter than we would have liked. Even if those matters had been addressed, there would still have been a significant overrun in the general medical services and the primary care reimbursement service area. We are now moving toward further transparency and accountability, and not alone will we let people know where problems lie, but also we will indicate what will be done about them. It is not good enough for people simply to describe a problem and throw their hands in the air when they are meant to be managing it. That is what we had in the past but it will not happen in future.

With regard to labour arrangements, there have been major changes in how consultants operate. That is being bedded in at the moment. That will give a lead to the other care professionals and the changes in work practices expected to make our health service competitive, affordable and efficient, so that everybody using it can access it as required.

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