Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It is good news in what is a difficult portfolio. The Minister has had his external critics and his own critics within his party. That is always a difficulty for a Minister. He was resolute; he stood at the job. The Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, stood by him, and that was clear. I have observed in the past few years that the Minister is tenacious. He does not mind criticism and he is robust enough to withstand it because criticism politically can be constructive. He listened to the advocates as he summed up in his own commentary about the importance of advocates. There is a lot more work to do in health and many more challenges. Hopefully, the Minister will have a good deal more time to roll out these reforms. Well done for sticking with it in difficult times internally and externally, from the Parliament and also out there in the greater place that is the challenges around public health.