Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Will it be possible to have a debate on the concept and meaning of collective Cabinet responsibility? I read this morning's Irish Independent with interest. We seem to be witnessing open warfare between the Minister for Health and Children and what he euphemistically describes as the Department of Finance. I will not test the Chair's patience by citing the Minister but either the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Health and Children should come to the House to explain the Government's position on the health service.

Clearly, there are two views at present, the view of the Minister for Finance, which prevails, and the view of the Minister for Health and Children, which obviously has been ignored to such an extent that he is provoked to speak publicly about the degree to which he has apparently been marginalised. The Government is ramming through a fundamental review of the Freedom of Information Act to facilitate, it says, the business of Government. When it cannot do what it is constitutionally obliged to do, which is to govern together, we need to hear who is in charge. Let us hear about what is happening from either the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Health and Children because we now have two different views from two senior Cabinet Ministers.