Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I also ask for a debate on health and health administration, specifically concerning the legislation passed to establish the Health Service Executive. No business plan from the Health Service Executive is yet available. Members should be informed as to when it is likely to be available and this House should have a debate on it to follow up the passing of the legislation.

This issue is particularly relevant in light of the news today that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children intends to keep to herself the decision on where capital funding will be spent on hospitals in the coming year. This appears to go against the principle underpinning the establishment of the Health Service Executive as set out by the Minister herself. It also runs counter to the correspondence now coming from the Department of Health and Children which states that particular matters pertaining to health should be referred to the Health Service Executive. In other words, if an issue does not suit the Minister, it is the Health Service Executive's problem, but if it is a matter with which she wishes to engage, she will do so. This was not the legislation's intention and is a serious development. I ask that the matter be debated in this House as soon as possible.