Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome this debate. As the Leader pointed out, this House has been given the opportunity to be the first to debate these important reports which were published last week by the Department of Health and Children and the Government's announcement of a reform programme arising from them. We have already heard some interesting comments. I listened carefully to Senator Minihan, in particular. His pronouncements on the reform programme were delivered with even greater certainty than by the Minister, which leads me to suspect that I know from where the drive for this reform is coming. In that regard, it is interesting that the thrust appears to be value for money and how we spend it, not the priority of care of the patient or care being at the heart of the health system.