Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is especially so with the difficulties the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has had, which are known in the public domain, and the pressure he has been put under at Cabinet.

I thank the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, for being here to support his colleague in the Independent Alliance. The Minister for Health's honeymoon is well over now. He got an extra bit of time because he is young and energetic. I wished him well, but he has been a slow learner as far as health goes and has been captured by the officials in the HSE. He is a puppet for them now. I do not mind him slipping down quietly to see a hospital, which is what he should do. I want him to do it in Clonmel also. However, it is time for him to step up to the plate or get off the field. He must look after the people of the south east as well as the rest of the country. Just because they have it here in Dublin or elsewhere, that does not mean the rest of Ireland is provided for. Dublin is not Ireland and the HSE must be held accountable. The former Ceann Comhairle spoke today about the massive budget overruns and the absence of accountability. We are elected and accountable, as we should be. The Minister must be accountable rather than to send a Minister of State with a script to read to us. It is an insult and a disgrace and we will raise the matter here again on the Order of Business and everywhere else.

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