Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want an assurance from the Government that Irish Water will come before the relevant Oireachtas committee to answer questions that many people have.

As regards the forthcoming finance Bill, there has been a considerable lack of detail in the health budget for 2015. The HSE deficit could hit €500 million. The comprehensive expenditure report published on Wednesday by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, states that departmental heads are progressing a range of measures saving €130 million, and income generation measures of €330 million, estimated to have the potential to support expenditure in 2015. No one knows what it actually means. It was in a footnote in the document. Essentially, it is a black hole of approximately €460 million in the health Estimate.

On the Order of Business prior to the budget, I asked the Taoiseach to facilitate a transparent examination of the health budget by an Oireachtas committee. Last year, we were given a false and dishonest health budget on budget day. Everybody remembers the €130 million in alleged medical card probity.

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