Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The funding committed was already part of the Oireachtas Sláintecare report. What we were looking for was the extra front-loaded funding to implement Sláintecare over a period. It is all very well outlining various commitments but I would like the Tánaiste to respond on a number of key issues. The proposal in the Sláintecare report was that the implementation office would be completely independent of the Department of Health. The opposite has happened, which is a serious concern. The report called for the establishment of a national fund. That has not happened and there are no proposals for it happen. I ask the Tánaiste to respond.

The commitment to universal access will only become a real commitment with legislation which requires the Minister for Health to provide universal access to the public healthcare system at all levels. When will the Government introduce such legislation?

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