Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. Every time we have a debate on topics such as health or agriculture, it quickly deteriorates into a row between the various political parties on how they do their business, which does not help. Today's debate confirms my view that politicians and elected representatives have very little to offer the health service. That is not to say that they have nothing to offer, but they have no more to offer than ordinary members of the public. It is no argument to say that they represent the people. A populist approach will never run the health service properly. The more I hear political representatives of health boards arguing that they are the only people elected by the people, the more I take the view that they should have less of a role to play.