Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We regularly get the wrong headlines, to the effect that the HSE is ¤450 million or ¤750 million over budget, yet the Minister turns down an amendment that would try to address the problem. There are serious budgetary problems. I have sided with the Minister when he has been unfairly criticised but every time we have made a suggestion to help him with these reforms, we have received a closed response. He could provide for no fewer than four people who, in the opinion in the directorate, have the relevant skills. These people are heavily enmeshed and embedded in red ink and we are being asked to endorse them but I will not do so. The Minister has serious financial problems and I have offered him a helpful solution. I offered him a helpful solution the last day but the red ink in the health service shows no sign of going away.