Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. A little contrition in the Minister's tweets would not go astray because it is a simple fact that the health system is in crisis. Every day of the week we see waiting lists, hospital trolleys, capital overspends and budgets running awry. At the same time the Government seems to have no concept that there are huge difficulties out there, even though they are consistently highlighted by Opposition parties and Deputies on all sides of the House. The Minister has a problem when it comes to his handling of the health services. The cancer scandals, the children's hospital, the waiting lists - everything is consistently poorly handled. The Minister's management skills and those of his Government and the Department are sadly lacking, and that is a fact. Deputy Donnelly asked whether there is confidence in the Minister. The House has consistently raised the difficulties in the health services, so every day of the week many people show no confidence in him and his handling of the health services. A little contrition and more action are what is required from his good self, and he should stay off the Twitter machine.

As for the other issue that has been raised by the sponsors of this motion, Sinn Féin Deputies, there is a difference between being a party of opposition-----

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