Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil has a particular history with regard to the HSE and what it was trying to achieve in health services. We have a health service in this country that comes with a very strong public service ethic. It is really important that we maintain that to the highest degree. We also inherited a sector of the health service that is not-for-profit, with much of it originating with religious organisations and bodies in this country. I see the core of the health service essentially being provided through dedicated public service that puts patients first.

As we recover, we have the problem of allocating sufficient resources to meet all the demands of a growing population and health service demands. Every country in the world, and particularly western Europe, faces that challenge. It is a challenge that the Labour Party in the last budget, together with our Fine Gael partners in government, has sought to address by allocating very significant additional resources to health services in Ireland.

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