Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

However, Deputy Micheál Martin and others are protesting about what the Minister is doing in carrying out his functions.

Let us get real and consider what is happening in the health system. What we are about is ensuring services will be delivered, despite the fact that there is no additional money available. Those who operate the system do not have the luxury of being able to inform people that they can be replaced or take on extra staff. There are tremendous people within the Health Service Executive who work tirelessly on behalf of patients and citizens. I express my appreciation of the work they do.

I am very much aware that the time for procrastination and indecision is at an end. We can no longer afford these luxuries. We cannot endure pontificating and posturing from people who should know better. If we are to play the political game, we should all submit freedom of information requests and table parliamentary questions on what previous Ministers for Health achieved.

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