This morning, we should be discussing AIB's mortgage interest rate increase or the Exchequer returns. Instead, we find the sordid, grubby affair of primary care centre selection dominating the headlines again.

Billy is back.

I have been trying to get clarity on this issue for some time. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, told the House that he consulted his Cabinet colleagues and officials and changed the criteria and selection process to ensure a broader selection of primary care centres, two of which were in his constituency. This morning came the revelation that there were close political ties between one of the owners of the site and the Minister.

Let us be clear. We just want to get to the bottom of this matter. I have a couple of questions for the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, because the Minister for Health is avoiding answering them. We are concerned that health needs are being decided on a Minister's whim that is itself based on political ties rather than need.

Labour's way or James's way.

Let us be clear. It is not just I who is saying this. Deputy Shortall, a former colleague in the party of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, resigned and stated she had to throw in the towel because of stroke politics.

Fianna Fáil invented stroke politics.

The Labour mudguard.

If that is a good thing, we should all be-----

This clearly indicates there are difficulties in how primary care sites were selected-----

Bring in JR.

-----as well as concerns regarding close political ties between the owner and the Minister.

There are difficulties in the health services as well.

That the Minister's decision conferred commercial and financial advantage on individuals is a serious issue.

He does not know them, though.

A question, please.

I have three questions for the Minister for Education and Skills. Was he consulted about the changed criteria in the primary care site selection process, was he aware of the political ties between the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and the landowner of the Balbriggan site, and is he comfortable with the decision process and the fall-out from same?

As the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on health, Deputy Kelleher is well aware of the background to all of this. He asked numerous questions and I understand he tabled questions to the Minister last week. If the Deputy is unable to table a question and pursue a correct and detailed answer from the Minister directly involved, it is more a reflection on Deputy Kelleher.

The Minister for Health will not answer.

What about today's revelations?

Cop on, Minister. You must be joking.

Deputy Kelleher is trying to-----

Would Deputies mind, please? Thank you.

If I were the Minister for Health, I would stay in Brussels for the weekend.

Would Deputy Dooley mind listening to the reply?

Deputy Dooley would never get the opportunity to go to Brussels.

Is that a good answer?

Let the Chief Whip answer.

Would Deputies please allow the Minister to reply without interruption?

It is Reilly's way or Labour's way.

Would you stay quiet, please?

Permanently.

Ernie and Bert.

I am quite satisfied, on the information I have received from the Minister, that the location of the site in Balbriggan is in accordance with the selection criteria. The story in today's edition of the Irish Independent is one that the Minister has dealt with satisfactorily. If Deputy Kelleher has detailed questions, which clearly he has, but to which he has failed so far to get a satisfactory answer from his point of view, I suggest he put them directly to the Minister.

The Deputy asked two questions.

He is not getting an answer now either.

So, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, does not have confidence.

What investigation will the Labour Party undertake?

It has no standards anymore.

With all due respect, the House deserves a better reply than that from the Minister, Deputy Quinn.

Hear, hear.

It was a disgraceful answer.

It was glib and trite. This is a serious issue. A Minister of State in the party of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, resigned and described what occurred as stroke politics. For him to pass it off glibly and to cast aspersions on my ability to ask questions is not good enough. I have tabled questions, but I have not been given answers. As the leader on the Government benches sitting opposite me today, is he comfortable with the fact that his former colleague resigned not only as a Minister of State but also as a member of the Labour Parliamentary Party because she failed to get support from her party colleagues in her attempt to get to the bottom of this issue?

The party's chairman sat on the fence.

No, Bert. Sorry, I meant Deputy Finian McGrath.

The Minister for Health has conferred financial and commercial gain on individuals with whom he has political ties. There were posters inside someone's house-----

A question, please.

-----and they pulled Christmas crackers with one another at chamber of commerce dinners-----

Does Deputy Kelleher realise that he is describing his own party?

-----yet the Minister, Deputy Quinn, glibly claims that this is not an issue.

Deputy Finian McGrath should cry a few more crocodile tears.

In the past, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, entered the Chamber looking for heads for lesser issues. He should at least hold the Minister for Health to account instead of blaming me.

I would like to give notice to the House that I have received requests for private notice questions on this matter. I have granted them. The matter will be addressed later today.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

Deputy Kelleher has attempted to use the protection of this House to suggest there was some financial impropriety in-----

I did not. I said financial gain, not impropriety.

-----conferring a financial advantage on a political supporter.

Yes.

The site in question was selected by Ms Mary Harney when she was the Minister for Health and Children.

Not on a public private partnership, PPP, basis.

When the Minister, Deputy Quinn's colleague-----

The ghosts are coming back to haunt Fianna Fáil.

Where was the site on Labour's list?

The former Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, is sitting up there.

There were hundreds of sites.

Shameful.