Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will support the motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. Those across the floor will say, of course, I would, that I am in opposition, but they are wrong. When everyone here were calling on Deputy Fitzgerald to resign in 2017, I did not support that motion. Furthermore, I was the only Deputy in west Cork to make it clear on my local radio station that she had been wronged. I was right. I will not support a motion of no confidence just to be one of the boys. I have, however, lost complete trust in the Minister for Health. When he was appointed, there was a lot of doubt about whether such a young Minister would be able to manage the demanding and complicated role. I take no pleasure in seeing any Minister fail, but it is time the Minister for Health accepted that he has failed. Waiting lists throughout the health service are unacceptable and the position is not getting any better.

6 o’clock

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae and I have taken 25 buses of people to Belfast for cataract procedures. I have invited the Minister to come on board one of these buses and to meet face to face these elderly people who have to travel hundreds of miles to another jurisdiction for a 15-minute procedure. Not only did the Minister never take up my offer, he has not done anything comprehensive to reduce the waiting lists for cataract procedures.

Our health service is on its knees. We have seen our nurses, midwives and paramedics on strike. These hard-working staff members are frustrated and concerned about patient safety and yet the Minister did not listen to their concerns until they were forced to strike. Morale among health service staff is at an all-time low. The Minister handled the cervical smear scandal terribly and thousands of women are still anxiously waiting for smear test results. The overrun in respect of the children's hospital is the nail in the coffin. Sick children and their families will pay the ultimate price for the Minister's failure to control the escalating costs of the new national children's hospital.

There are only 18 Deputies in this country who can take the high moral ground with regard to the children's hospital disgrace. They are the Deputies who supported the Rural Independent Group motion in 2017 which sought to reveal the truth, which was that there would be the scandalous overrun which we are now seeing. The main parties are now all in agreement with us. It is for this reason and many more that I will support the motion of no confidence.

See this speech in context