Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le teaghlach an tAthair Alex Reid, go háirithe a deirfiúracha Maura agus Margaret, a Aintín Ita, agus na Redemptorists. Fear iontach cróga ab ea an tAthair Reid agus gan an obair chrua a dhein sé, ní bheadh síochán againn inniu.

Tuigim go bhfuil plean an HSE ag an Aire Sláinte i láthair na huaire. Is plean é seo faoina bhfuil daoine ar fud an Stáit an buartha. An réasún go bhfuil daoine an-buartha is that the quality or state of any health service is a good indicator of how society treats the sick, including children, the elderly and citizens with disabilities. This is particularly so in a State which describes itself as a republic. Yesterday, the Health Service Executive delivered its 2014 national service plan to the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. It includes almost €700 million in cuts and there is speculation that the figure could be closer to €1 billion. Austerity rules. There is widespread concern about the effect this will have. Clearly, this is the worst small country in the western world in which to be sick. We were told at the weekend that in the period 2006-11, patients with breast, bowel and cervical cancer fared worse here than in the vast majority of industrialised states.

As the Taoiseach knows, last Friday the HSE confirmed that 24 health agencies - including some hospitals - are paying top-ups to their managers. In a republic, or indeed in any decent society, citizens have a right to a first-class health service on the basis of need. How the Taoiseach deals with this matter will be a mark of his Government's tenure. He clearly has no faith in the Minister for Health. The Department of the Taoiseach has assumed responsibility for health spending, along with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Therefore, the Taoiseach will not be able to blame the Minister, Deputy Reilly, when his Government takes up to €1 billion out of the people's health service.

Can the Taoiseach confirm the scale of cuts contained in the health service plan? Can he tell us when the Government intends to publish this plan?

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