Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister should set about doing the work, rather than talking about it or talking about what was not done. She should ensure, as I noted, that the bad practices in the HSE are left behind. Moreover, perhaps Deputy Conway, who has left the Chamber, should not criticise Deputy Shortall, who has a lot of experience in the House, considerably more than either me or indeed Deputy Conway. Deputy Shortall had the experience and the insight within the Department of Health to see what was going on in there. There is no faster education than being put into the thick of it to find out what is going on and she should be listened to, because she has valuable views and it is not for any other Member here to denigrate them. When Deputy Conway has been in the House for as long as has Deputy Shortall and when she has that experience, she can talk then. Deputy Shortall has that experience in the Department of Health, as well as considerable experience in this area over many years.

I repeat that I am concerned about the siphoning off of 4,000 jobs from the HSE. It should be disbanded and reactivated and perhaps it should all be done together but 4,000 jobs are being taken from the HSE.

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