Joe O'Toole (Independent)

This debate is obviously taking the same route as the recent one on agriculture, like every debate on these subjects that I have listened to during the past 16 years in the House. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House as it is the first time that he has been in the "hot seat" when I have been contributing. I must tell the Minister of State, however, that nothing ever changes. It is the business of Opposition parties to oppose and criticise, and there is nothing new about that. I am speaking as an Independent Member and, in that sense, I am disinterested in the political engagement between parties but I have heard the same debate down through the years.

I recall seeing the former Deputy Des O'Malley walking the streets of Limerick when that terrible Minister for Health decided to close Barrington's Hospital. The Fianna Fáil Government of the day duly called for the resignation of the Minister. I saw the former Minister for Health, Deputy Noonan, make a wrong decision because he followed the advice of his lawyers in the McCole and other cases. I listened to people on the other side of the House calling for the Minister's resignation. Now I am listening to the same calls concerning the current Minister, Deputy Martin.

I did not agree with the first two proposals and neither do I support the idea that the current Minister should resign or be removed from office. He is as committed and effective as any Minister for Health and Children that I have seen over the years. I would like to see who those calling for his resignation would wish to put in his place. It is one of those cases where people just might get what they want. I would be quite happy to see a change of Government and then we could look at it from a whole new perspective.