Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have full confidence in the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, because in my tenure I have worked with him and seen at first hand his competence, integrity, extraordinary work ethic and his commitment to doing an incredibly demanding job to the best of his considerable ability every day. This leaves me in no doubt. Not only should I have confidence in him but this House should have confidence in him.

Speaker after speaker made reference to the demands we have in our healthcare system. No one in this House knows that better than the Minister. No one has worked harder in his tenure in this Dáil and in this Government to advance the needs of patients and the needs of the most vulnerable in our hospitals, primary care centres and nursing homes than the Minister, Deputy Harris. In the years during which I have been privileged to work with him and see upfront his commitment and extraordinary dedication in trying to make progress in such a difficult area I have seen again and again his commitment and competence. This is the reason I have confidence in him and the reason I believe the motion should be rejected.

It is not only about what a person puts into a role or his values, although I believe values should matter. I believe the Minister, Deputy Harris, has shown those values every day in his time holding office. It is also about what those values and what that commitment has helped him to achieve and what he will achieve in future. During his tenure as Minister for Health we are seeing signs of progress in what we need to do to further support those who are waiting for operations. We have seen progress in reducing waiting times for key operations and surgeries.

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