Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

It is one of the top performing hospitals in the country and is a flagship of service of which I am very proud as is anybody with any dealings with it, including most people in Longford, Westmeath and further afield.

We have all heard talk of reform of this House, the Dáil, the public service and so on. The public service is being demonised by a number of people both inside and outside these Houses. One would swear on a Mass book that they were the cause of all the social and economic ills we have. The best people in the country are in this House, on local authorities and VECs. What has been said is not fair. They will be the first people to agree that we need reform but they are not the villains of the piece and deserve respect. Many people, young and not so young, in the public service have very serious responsibilities. I hope that in delivering his Budget Statement, the Minister will take cognisance of that.