Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister. I certainly do not envy him his task of delivering this legislation, which is effectively abolishing the health boards. For most people, this means further centralisation of the health services. If we are to have one central executive delivering the health services for the whole country, it will be a retrograde step. If there is a service more in need of decentralisation, it is the health service.

I have been a member of the Western Health Board for many years.