Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to respond to Deputy Billy Kelleher by referring to my experience on the Opposition benches. Any of us who comes back into this House is very lucky. I have always viewed being elected or not being elected in that way. The voice of the people is genuinely supreme. Fianna Fáil is opposed to the Bill because it vests too much power in the Minister. For ten years we said the Minister of the day was putting the health service at arm's length. I did not personalise the matter when the Minister in question was in office and do not intend to start now. Her hands-off approach meant that every time we asked a question, she said she was not responsible. We were told the matter in question was the responsibility of the HSE. We have changed that approach entirely. The Minister is assuming these powers for himself because he is determined to be the accountable person for the health service. In opposing this Deputy Billy Kelleher is saying he wants the old regime to return. As we all know, the old regime was not very successful, even though enormous amounts of money were thrown at it. The Deputy really needs to think about this issue and I am a little surprised he has made that argument.

I will respond to Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin's suggestion that the role of the committee with regard to the service plan is reactive. I look at it on the basis that we consult the committee four times a year. I have referred to my time in opposition. The introduction of the BreastCheck and cervical screening programmes resulted from contributions made at meetings of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. It is a matter of persuading Ministers that certain matters should be included in service plans. If we were to consider putting the service plan before the committee, rather than engaging in serious consultations on them in advance, that would be a reactive measure. I remind the Deputy that the cochlear ear implant issue is a clear case in point. It is not included in the current service plan, but it will be included in the next one. We most definitely listen to health spokespersons because we know they have acquired a degree of expertise along the way.

See this speech in context