Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me put the Deputy at ease. The Economic Management Council does not go through each of the items that apply in a normal Cabinet meeting because there is no point in going through all of that again. If issues of a broader nature need to be discussed, these are obviously political personnel dealing with the strategy to be followed here. We do not go into the detail of each individual Minister's requirements. Every decision taken has to be discussed and endorsed by the Cabinet to make things constitutionally proper. Even if the Economic Management Council were to decide on position X or Y, obviously if individual Ministers are involved in that sort of area, that is discussed with them, but it also goes before the entire Cabinet for discussion, questioning, analysis and decision. There was a time when Cabinet meetings lasted ten or 15 hours or more. It is important for the smooth running of Government to have an effective system of arriving at, discussing and making decisions.

I would like to think that we try to put that into practice. For example, the Economic Management Council examines and reflects on the overall strategy and the point we are at in terms of its implementation. The council moves on to recommend decisions for Cabinet that make that happen. It is not a case of others having different views. Some people seem to believe the EMC is a separate government and that people are excluded. It is merely a streamlining forum that allows for clarity about what needs to be decided. Obviously, decisions go before the full Cabinet for discussion and decision as required by the Constitution and so on.

Deputy Martin referred to the changes taking place to the structure of health. As the Deputy knows, it is a massive juggernaut. I was pleased to see the approval of the Haddington Road agreement. I am pleased to note the acceptance of hospital groupings whereby contracts are to the group rather than isolated individual hospitals, small or large, operating in separate tunnels. I share the view that if people have something to say about the workings of the health system or individual hospitals, there is a facility for them to do so. It is not a case of being afraid to speak out or being afraid to make a case that needs to be made.

See this speech in context