Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I extend a warm welcome to the Minister for Health and Children and thank her for coming this afternoon. She will begin to wonder what is wrong with us as we have nothing but praise for her today. I wish the gentleman who contracted the virus well and hope he continues to enjoy good health. I will wait to hear the Minister's answers to some of the questions that were put, but I join the other speakers in congratulating her on the way in which she and her officials have handled this epidemic. The information and the ways in which it has been provided have been effective and efficient, and the media reporting has also been good. I was especially grateful for the briefing Dr. Tony Holohan gave us in the Oireachtas last week and the fact that he took time out to explain to us what was happening. It is always better to give people the information before they read about it as that gives us a chance to have a prepared response. I hope swine flu will be contained and we do not get any more cases in Ireland. If we do, I hope we will handle them correctly. I thank the Minister again for the way in which the issue has been handled.