Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik referred to health and Sláintecare. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, is very much committed to Sláintecare. He is of the view that an implementation group will be appointed by the end of the year. He is very much committed to the report of the overarching body, which unfortunately did not contain Members of the Seanad, but in the budget we are seeing an increase of €685 million in the Department of Health spend. Senator Rose Conway-Walsh will be pleased to hear that it is the highest spend in modern times, as will Senator Murnane O'Connor who also referred to health.