Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be supporting the motion of no confidence in the Minister. I have observed his lack of understanding of health service dysfunction at close quarters in the past two and a half years from across the floor at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and in the Dáil. His understanding of the causes of that health service dysfunction has been poor and, unfortunately, not improved in those two and a half years. His failure to engage with front-line staff is the core reason for his failure to understand the dysfunctional health service. I have given him the benefit of the doubt on many occasions, in the expectation that he would be able to read himself into his brief in those two and a half years. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. I believed his youth and enthusiasm were a breath of fresh air when he first came on the scene. I defended him when colleagues of mine felt that many of his fine speeches were more spin than substance. I was mistaken in that belief. I have seen and heard him spinning yarns, rather than delivering substance in the health service, particularly in the area of health reform.

My decision not to support him and to support the motion of no confidence in him was crystallised when yet another commitment of his – to resolve the emergency department crisis in Limerick – was reneged on. The delivery of the 60-bed modular unit will be delayed until mid-2020 and probably longer. What is happening in Limerick is a metaphor for what is happening in the health service: there were 57 patients on trolleys there today and 400 nationwide. When we lose trust in a Minister, we lose confidence. I recall saying to the Minister when he first took up office that the first thing he should do which would be free and cost nothing whatsoever was to give hope to the health service and raise morale. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Instead, he has alienated doctors, general practitioners and consultants and, most importantly, patients. A change of attitude is needed, as well as a change of Minister, but, unfortunately, we will get neither.

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