Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government and the Minister for Health in particular share the Deputy's concern and this was highlighted by the fact that the Minister for Finance indicated in his budget speech that efforts would be made to agree a contract. We regard this as crucial to the proper development of the primary sector as an alternative to our reliance on hospital treatment and to see that fulfilled by primary care centres with a comprehensive range of services and a wider opening hours' availability to people. Change is crucial to the achievement of our objectives for health services. Both Ministers have indicated it is a high priority.

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