Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is trying to defend himself against a growing pool of opposition, possibly within Fine Gael but certainly among some Labour members of the coalition, as evidenced by Deputy Shortall. This situation needs to come to an end.

When the House debated the HSE governance Bill this afternoon, the Minister referred to it as an interim measure to facilitate the abolition of the board. What will it do in real terms? We used nautical terms, for example, the Titanic being called the Olympic. The legislation provides that one needs to have held a position in the old structure to qualify for that position in the new structure. It is a mockery.

I am amazed that the Minister is surrounded by the same people, yet he was the most forthright in condemning the former Minister, Ms Mary Harney, and the previous Government in terms of health. When I was on that side of the House, I probably agreed with him and mimicked much of what he was saying. His press adviser, the spin doctor who is dressing up the Balbriggan issue for him, is the same person who worked for Ms Harney, of whom the Minister was critical.