James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I have covered the question of social justice, which was mentioned by Senator Healy Eames. I reject the suggestion that we said we would pass this legislation in the third quarter of 2011. We said it would be published in that quarter. Senator Byrne also spoke about this point.

Nobody is more keen than I am to see this Bill passed expeditiously. People are wondering whether we are serious. There have been many false dawns in the past. I assure the public that we are absolutely serious. We are serious about the specialist grade as well. I do not want excellent Irish doctors to leave this country. We need them here. When this Bill has been passed and we have clarity about the other issue, I hope to be in a position to send out a call to doctors to come back to this country. Senators are familiar with the rugby song, "Ireland's Call". I will issue my own "Ireland's Call" to bring our medical professionals back.

I remind Senator Byrne that I never promised a regional hospital in the north east. I am not involved in any negotiations on it. Others may be pursuing that agenda, as is their absolute entitlement and right. I remind the Senator that his former colleague, Dermot Ahern, said not a red cent was available for the hospital. My only comment in that regard is that it is a pity he did not tell us there was not a red cent left in the Government coffers.

Senator Clune spoke about people who play golf. I have covered that and I concur with her comments.

Senator Cullinane referred to the national service plan. I will return to the House to discuss that. I am pleased the Senator supports the Bill and the concept of primary care. He was right to say there are at least two excellent clinics in Waterford city. Groups of doctors have come together to provide a wide range of services that would not otherwise have been available in primary care. If a primary care facility is near a big hospital, it takes huge pressure off that hospital. It can be far more convenient for patients to go to a primary care centre. It is less intimidating for them to see a doctor or other member of staff in a building with which they are familiar. Even if they have to see a different doctor, they are still in their own space. It is not like going to a different location entirely.

I share Senator Cullinane's view that the health service should be predicated on need rather than on ability to pay. I am glad he shares my view. The ratio of general practitioners to the overall population is a concern. I hope this Bill will help to address that issue. The Senator mentioned Tallaght, which is an area of concern. We have had difficulties in Fettercairn in the past. This legislation will make it easier to deal with such matters. No negotiation with anyone will be required. I hope we will be successful when we offer packages to bring general practitioners to such areas. This feeds into the principle that patients should be treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as near to home as possible. That principle, which has been my mantra from the outset, underpins everything we are doing.

Senator Comiskey mentioned those who have to wait for a general practitioner to retire or die. It is a deplorable way to run a system. It is deplorable when it happens in the hospital system as well. It is crazy that excellent people who have studied really hard and have finished their specialist registrar training should have to wait in no-man's land until somebody retires or dies. This legislation will go some of the way towards addressing the primary care side. I hope we will be able to address the personnel deficits on the specialist side as well. I commend the Bill to the House. I thank Senators for their support.