Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Sláintecare is an incremental ten-year programme. It is supposed to start in year 1 and build every year from then. It seems the Minister is joining his Cabinet colleagues, in particular, the Minster for Health, in downplaying the seriousness of the crisis that now exists with Sláintecare. He refused to engage in the fundamental problems, namely, the institutional resistance to the introduction of accountability for the provision of health services and accountability for the spending of that massive budget that is in excess of €20 billion. If he persists in refusing to acknowledge that elephant in the room, we will not make any progress in this.

The Taoiseach said he wanted to meet the two senior people from Sláintecare who resigned. That was 12 days ago. No further contact has been made since then. The Committee on Health wanted the Minster to come in and explain what was going on. We have to wait three weeks for that to happen. The advisory council members met the Minster and came out saying they were no wiser.

The Government needs to stop ignoring the elephant in the room.

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