Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, agus molaim an rún mímhuiníne seo san Aire Slainte, an Teachta Simon Harris. While this motion of no confidence is in the Minister for Health, what is really at the core of the motion is our sick and our vulnerable people, our children and elderly, the patients who lie daily on hospital trolleys, those who wait in pain agonising over when they will get a hospital appointment or who have just been notified that, once again, their operations have been cancelled. What this motion has at its heart is political accountability. It is about taxpayer accountability and ensuring the answers for which people are yearning are given to the questions they are asking.

We are told by Fianna Fáil that accountability has to be suspended because of the issue of Brexit, that no matter what, its party will not vote no confidence in any Minister in this Government and that it is handing over a blank cheque to each and every Minister no matter how badly he or she runs his or her Department. This is form for Fianna Fáil, a party which has handed out many blank cheques in the past, whether to bankers or to developers.

The reality is that accountability cannot be suspended, and no matter what, even if this motion of no confidence succeeds tonight, it will not precipitate a general election. Let us be clear about that. The Taoiseach will not run to the park and ask the President to dissolve the Dáil if a motion of no confidence in Deputy Harris is passed here today. That is the reality.

I have heard the defence of the Minister here today. I have heard people talk about how he assisted in the eighth amendment referendum, the Public Health Alcohol Bill and the implementation of Sláintecare. We do not take away from the Minister in relation to his role in any of those matters. Let us be clear, however, it was the public who repealed the eighth amendment.

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