Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State has rightly said, elected representatives can ask all the questions they want. That is not the issue. Does the Minister of State have any idea how many questions I have asked about the HSE? It is not a matter of the power to ask questions but rather an obligation to provide answers. There will be no obligation to provide answers.

There is an obligation to "consult" and "have regard to". One can go to the High Court any day and find out how little it means to "have regard to." I have just had regard to a piece of paper, which is a beautiful piece of paper, and onwards we go. Will the Minister of State cut out the bluff and the bluster?

See this speech in context