Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Our debate on the social welfare Bill will be an honest one and I will be interested to hear people's views. There are no easy decisions. Talking about this budget being progressive is ironic. When the ESRI and the OECD examined the two previous budgets of this Government, they found them to be the most regressive of the past six tough budgets. I put it to Members that this one is even more so.

Can the Acting Leader give a commitment that, on the publication of the HSE service plan in two weeks time, a full debate will take place on it in this House? What is the figure for cuts to the health service? Is it €666 million or is it €1 billion? What are people to expect from the Government? It was unprecedented that, on the day of the budget, I warned Members opposite that the Department of Health was a timebomb waiting to go off. Can the Acting Leader tell me specifically-----