Mark Dearey (Green Party)

I seek a resumption of the debate on health with the Minister for Health and Children. It was unfortunate but necessary that the debate was curtailed the last time she was in the Chamber. I look forward to her picking up a number of the outstanding items from the early part of that debate.

I wish to reflect further on what has happened in the past day or two between HIQA and the HSE with regard to child care. I refer to the range of issues the HSE has command of and must manage, all going through Professor Drumm, who is a medic turned manager with the greatest of respect to him. He has to deal with everything from child care to community welfare and assessments by community welfare officers. All this goes across his desk. Instead of breaking up the organisation with regard to region, I suggest doing so according to function. We should allow it to do its core activities, primary health care and hospitals, and find another way of dealing with a range of other functions. I note the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has written to the chair of the HSE, Mr. Liam Downey, with regard to the HIQA report on shortcomings in child care. I propose that serious consideration be given to amending the Health Act to the effect that the Minister does not merely write, but can issue a direction to the HSE if it deviates from State policy. Last week, I raised an issue in respect of mental health provision, which is driven by the document, A Vision for Change, but which is being eroded in an effort to save money. In such circumstances, the Minister should have the ability to direct the HSE, rather than simply to write to it requesting that it amend its positions. Such an assertion would permit the Minister to give greater direction to the HSE and there would be more accountability. It would be a two-way street and the Minister ought to consider this suggestion. I look forward to a debate on an amendment to the Health Act 2004 and I respectfully make this suggestion to the Leader.