Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I did not think it would have been necessary, but in light of the comments from the Opposition parties I support the call for another debate on the health service. I thought, given the enlightened comments from the Minister in the House last week in which she outlined the good vision and the necessity for health reform, that people would have been better informed. Investment in our health services has increased from €3.5 billion when many of us first came into this House in 1997 to €15 billion this year, with a €1.2 billion increase this year.