Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 20, line 22, to delete "policies and".

Perhaps the Minister will consider a small adjustment for Report Stage. It is proposed to delete where it does not accord with "policies and" objectives of the Minister. We should discuss "policies". One would appreciate that everybody involved has the objective of extending healthiness, life spans and so on. Some people might believe this is best done at GP level and others believe it might best be done at hospital level. We can differ. We can discuss "policies" without disputing the Minister's objectives, which is exactly what we are doing this afternoon. We share the Minister's objectives. I do not foresee any difficulty where people have different ways of achieving those objectives. In contrast to what I was describing earlier about economists who sat around in public employment when this country got into trouble, debate goes on all the time and is most refreshing, stimulating and wonderful. Let us not rule anything out because in such a context we would be discussing policy.

If somebody disputes the Minister's objectives, he is right to oppose. However, I do not believe the issue of people having different policies towards his objectives should be a major deal in this legislation. That is the spirit in which I proposed this amendment.