James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a new Secretary General in the Department of Health and a new chief executive officer and a new chairman in the VHI. Things have changed greatly, and will continue to change. I said previously that as we reach that point where the status quo is really changing, the noise and din from those who are comfortable with that status quo, which does not put patients first, will grow to a deafening din, but so be it. We are committed and we are going to do it. There is no turning back for me or for my Government.

Roscommon hospital was mentioned and it was said that if it had not been closed, there would be no need for primary care centres. I would say to Senator Ó Domhnaill that that is to totally misunderstand what health reform is about. It is about moving patient care to the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as close to home as possible. Clearly, there is a deficit in primary care in the Roscommon area which has to be addressed, and all the more acutely because of the fact the accident and emergency department in Roscommon hospital no longer functions as it did. We have had that debate before and we know that the service there was not safe, as determined by the Health Information and Quality Authority. I am pleased to report an ever-increasing footfall in Roscommon hospital in terms of new facilities and new services, including plastic surgery and rheumatology to mention but two. Bill Maher continues to focus on moving more stuff from the bigger hospitals to the smaller ones, which is as it should be, and, indeed, from the hospitals back to the community in primary care.

As I said, the home help reduction should not result in anyone losing out. No one who is assessed as needing a service will be left without one. As I said, I very much look forward to working with the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, in regard to primary care and to continuing my work with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in regard to mental health, disability and older people.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh has abused his privilege in this House by suggesting that I have any business relationship with Mr. Seamus Murphy. I do not and I have said that outside the House and inside it. I challenge Senator Ó Clochartaigh to repeat that outside the House and to deal with the consequences. When he talks about credibility, I find it difficult to stomach it given that his party leader still tries to tell us he was never a member of the IRA. However, what I found even more disturbing was the shroud-waving engaged in by his party in February. Pregnant women expecting the joy of a new child were told by his party spokesman that they would not have a safe service and cancer patients were told they would not be able to get their drugs. The case proved to be utterly false and not only did we maintain a safe service but, as I outlined, we have improved it in so many ways.

There is much more to be done; I do not deny it. I remain as committed as ever to doing that. I remain more determined than ever to make it happen but, mostly, I am more convinced than ever that we will achieve it because of the excellence of the people working in the health service and the new leadership that is emerging, both clinically and managerially. I commend the amendment to the motion.