Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is getting things done and will continue to try to do that.

I also thank the staff of the House, particularly for late night sittings that have been added at different times. People have shown extraordinary flexibility to facilitate the work that we are doing.

I will get a proper answer for Deputy Calleary from the HSE and the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, about the training allowance that has been removed. I accept that many sectors across the health system are under pressure but many others are working very well. There are significant increases in resources each year to deliver those services. We often focus on negatives and pressure points in this House for understandable reasons, as we must do so to improve them, but the many people who work in our health service, sometimes in difficult conditions, are doing a very good job. We will continue to try to work on the pressure points and I am sure the Deputy will continue to raise those issues with me.

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