Maurice Hayes (Independent)

It is a pity that we use that sort of shorthand. It is appropriate for hospitals to give up some surgical interventions so they are better able to look after chronic diseases and diseases of the aged — a subject which interests me more every morning when I look in the mirror.

I wish to reassure any members of the farming community who might be surprised or concerned about having a woman Minister. Members of the Ulster Farmers Union would say they had their best Minister ever when Bríd Rodgers held that post.