Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

Perhaps she can explain the competitiveness of that issue.

Moreover, the Minister, Deputy Harney, should appear before the House to explain why, although she spoke last year of 1,000 redundancies in the Health Service Executive's administration, all that have been seen since the beginning of the year are plans to close 11 hospitals, reduce home help services to elderly people and remove services to people with disabilities. Only yesterday, it was announced that she intends to close 27 beds in Wexford General Hospital, 21 of which only were opened four years ago. The Minister should appear before the House to discuss such issues with regard to competitiveness and how it affects the health service, rather than the waffle I hear from Government representatives.

I wish to make a point in respect of the Government's seeking of support from the Opposition. Although it received such support during the Lisbon treaty campaign, it was thrown back at us.