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

With respect, there is nothing remotely random about the manner in which the budget was allocated for 2013. Hospitals were actually given an increase. The hospital budget got an increase. Two of the hospitals mentioned in that letter received increases of 5.5% and 2.8%, respectively, and two of the hospitals received a small reduction. That is what the rebalancing of the budget is about. I have no issue with CEOs writing to the head of the HSE seeking to protect their budgets. All groups do that. Patient safety is my main priority and patients being seen as quickly as possible, allowing for the constraints under which we operate, is my second priority.

See this speech in context