Joe O'Toole (Independent)

We are quick to criticise the Department of Health and Children time and again when things go wrong. The morning after swine flu hit the headlines, one of the British-Irish tabloids carried a front-page story that Ireland was unready, unable and without plans to respond. The Minister and her staff at the Department have handled the matter with the expertise that I look for in Government. The calm and assured way in which this was presented to the public has been a model of its type. Dr. Holohan managed to convey in simple language the medical information about what is, no doubt, a complex issue. The message he conveyed reassured people. The information about the various back-ups within the Department and the level of readiness was also reassuring.

As I said, in bad times there is constant criticism so it is useful to recognise that swine flu has been handled, and continues to be handled, well. No doubt we are only halfway through it, a quarter of the way or whatever, but as an ordinary citizen I feel we are being well protected and well led on the issue. The Department reacted and responded as I would want it to have done. I would like the Minister to convey to her officials my subjective view that the matter has been handled with extraordinary expertise.