Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to put in context the investment and reform programme the Government has been promoting since the launch of the national health strategy in November 2001.

It is a matter of record that there have been significant increases in public investment in the health services in recent years. In 2003 the Government is investing €8.9 billion of current and capital expenditure, representing an overall increase of 154% since 1997. As a percentage of GNP, gross non-capital health expenditure now stands at 7.45%. The more than doubling of investment in health spending over the period 1997 to 2003 marks a significant achievement.