Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has great experience of the Department of Health and he knows even better than I do that there are always views and discussions within Departments during the approach to the budget regarding the settling of departmental Estimates. We are in the period when we will settle the budget for 2015. The Taoiseach and I, on the formation of the new Cabinet, agreed the priorities for the rest of the Government’s term. The Taoiseach will communicate with the Deputy on the details of the programme for Government. The two items on the A list from health relate to health insurance equalisation, which is important, and services for the over-70s, which are a priority, as has been mentioned right around the House. I am glad those items are being prioritised.

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