Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State's answer. Part of the difficulty I had in tabling this question was whether to direct it to the Department of Health or the Department of Justice. My worry, if I had tabled it to the Department of Justice, was that Department would say this is a health insurance matter. I appreciate the answer the Minister of State has given but the reality is that it comes back to buck passing between the two Departments. I do not care which Department is responsible for it. I know the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science wants to move on this issue as well. I want the issue sorted. I put the question to the Department of Health because when I spoke to different Departments, I kept being informed that this is a matter for that Department. I had discussions with the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for insurance, Deputy Fleming, and he told me this is clearly a matter for the Department of Health. At the end of the day, I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, is saying advanced discussions are ongoing, but we have been waiting for more than a year. I ask him to have good news for us before Christmas.