Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is seeking to re-engage with the trade union on implementing a reform plan for the health service which was agreed in principle in December 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6928/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The HSE and my Department are monitoring the evolving situation regarding this industrial action carefully, in close co-operation with the Department of Finance. The action, which is under way across the public service, has the potential to cause serious disruption in the health sector, depending on its scope and scale. My main concern is to ensure that the effect of the dispute on patient care is minimised as much as possible and, so far, this has been achieved. Where issues that could impact on patient care have arisen, it has so far been possible to resolve the situation at local level. I would acknowledge the responsible approach which has been taken to date in this regard by the relevant health service unions.

There is no doubt that, following a period of rapid increase in funding, the health services are now facing the challenge of managing within much tighter resource constraints. There is scope within our health system, by reforming the way services are delivered, to achieve more through greater efficiency and concentrating on services that contribute most to people's health and well-being. There is an onus on all concerned - Government, management, trade unions and employees – to find a way of engaging on the reforms which are needed to deliver better services to patients.