Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It speaks volumes about the choice the Labour Party in particular made between the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and the former Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, in recent weeks. It also speaks volumes about the choices the Government, in particular the Labour Party, is making on health care. Serious questions have been raised as to whether the Minister for Health should have been involved in the Balbriggan decision. No one is questioning the right of a citizen to support a Minister, Deputy or other politician. That happens all over the country, but one must ask the question of whether a Minister in return or in any other fashion has made a decision which could be of benefit to a supporter. That is a fundamental question that must be raised. We have not got clarity from the Minister as to how a decision was made to put Swords and in particular Balbriggan, onto a list of primary health care centres. The former Minister of State, whom the Deputy Leader fully backed last week in this Chamber ? she was right to do so ? has raised serious questions about that process. She has said that answers have not been given by the Minister. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has said further clarification must be given. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, stated the affair looked like stroke politics. The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, suggested in the weekend newspapers that questions needed to be answered by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, on the decision.

We, as an Opposition, are asking the Government today to send the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, to the House. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister of State who has responsibility for primary care be brought to the House to explain the criteria for the selection of the 15 extra sites, in particular Swords and Balbriggan. If the Government side votes against that, it is voting against the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton; the former Minister of State, Deputy Shortall; the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton; the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, and all the voices who are raising concerns about the decision, apart from the Opposition parties. They would be going against their own members.