Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

——to persecute the people. They are being curtailed to provide the best level of services that can be made available. This is what is needed and is why, as Professor Keane begins his work, Members should give him the space to be able to do it. They should not hop on bandwagons as soon as he makes a decision that may be unpopular locally. Members must rise above this.

Undoubtedly the health service has problems. However, I believe Senator O'Toole suggested that it is high time that Members realised it is in their interest as politicians to make patients feel confident and secure that those who are the best-placed clinical judges of decision-making are allowed to get on with it without political interference. This is the reason I applaud the Minister's decision to give the person who has the responsibility to deliver the service——