Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I disagreed with the Taoiseach. Reverting to our discussion about consultants, many of them have told me that they would be prepared to pay a higher personal tax rate if it was hypothecated to health spending. While we need more resources, the nub of the issue is that the Minister is not accounting to the House, as per his remit, for the difference between the national service plan and Vote 38. There has been serious criticism from our two key watchdogs. For example, Mr. Seamus Coffey of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has stated that the difference between the plan and the health Vote's spending drift is cumulative and long lasting. As the Minister stated, we are heading towards a figure of more than €2 billion in unplanned expenditure in respect of recent years. Even more damning is the report of our outstanding PBO entitled "The HSE National Service Plan and its Relationship with the Health Vote". While it acknowledges that the relationship is complex and there is a certain level of regular reporting, there seems to be a lack of seriousness in the Minister's Department about managing the health Vote.

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