Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am confused that Deputy Billy Kelleher is confused as to what the Government's policy is. It has been the same since the Government came to office. We are going to try to do what we have never done before regarding the health service, namely, agree on a cross-party basis what the structure of the health service should be. We all agree it should not be exactly as the HSE is. We all agree it has dysfunctional elements and we all agree it must be improved.

Putting the hospital groups on a statutory footing and giving them autonomy makes a lot of sense. This is what I would like to see underpinned in legislation. However, this is a minority Government, and to pass any legislation on HSE structures will require support. This is why it is over to this Oireachtas, including my party, to refuse to play party politics with the structures. I am not suggesting the Deputy is. When the report is published in April, I hope to see the structures every party wants. Then let us put them into law in the House as quickly as possible.

Deputy Mary Butler was right to highlight the two issues of orthopaedics and ophthalmology in University Hospital Waterford. She has, on a number of occasions, made me aware of the length of these waiting lists. We will have a target that no patient will wait longer than 15 months for any procedure, including those, by the end of October. Let me see if any more can be done about it in the context of the HSE waiting plan.

I agree with Deputy Mattie McGrath on Cashel. We do not need fiefdoms in our health service. The idea that Clonmel is under pressure while Cashel is not doing enough is unacceptable. The Deputy mentioned money being spent. None of that happened on my watch. On my watch, additional services will be provided in Cashel.

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