Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2003

Does the Leader have any plans for us to debate the Government's restructuring of the health service, which the newspapers are calling "reform"? There used to be a phrase – democratic centralism – used by people with whom I would be more acquainted than others. It is now part of history but we have a notion of bureaucratic centralism masquerading as increased efficiency. There is a need for a serious debate on these proposals. I am not a believer in management speak which seems to suggest less democracy means more efficiency. However, the logic of that argument could land us in dangerous territory. Democracy is the way in which consumers of the health service make their feelings known. That is an issue for the debate. I ask the Leader to consider a serious debate on the health service.

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