Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le teaghlach an tAthair Alex Reid, go háirithe a dheirfiúracha Maura agus Margaret, a Aintín Ita, agus na Redemptorists. Fear iontach cróga ab ea an tAthair Reid agus gan an obair chrua a rinne sé, ní bheadh síocháin againn inniu.

Tuigim go bhfuil plean an HSE ag an Aire Sláinte i láthair na huaire. Is plean é seo faoina bhfuil daoine ar fud an Stáit an-bhuartha. An réasún go bhfuil daoine an-bhuartha is that the quality or state of any health service is a good indicator of how society treats the sick, including children, the elderly and citizens with disabilities. This is particularly so in a State which describes itself as a republic. Yesterday, the Health Service Executive delivered its 2014 national service plan to the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. It includes almost €700 million in cuts and there is speculation that the figure could be closer to €1 billion. Austerity rules. There is widespread concern about the effect this will have. Clearly, this is the worst small country in the western world in which to be sick. We were told at the weekend that in the period 2006-11, patients with breast, bowel and cervical cancer fared worse here than in the vast majority of industrialised states.

As the Taoiseach knows, last Friday the HSE confirmed that 24 health agencies - including some hospitals - are paying top-ups to their managers. In a republic, or indeed in any decent society, citizens have a right to a first-class health service on the basis of need. How the Taoiseach deals with this matter will be a mark of his Government's tenure. He clearly has no faith in the Minister for Health. The Department of the Taoiseach has assumed responsibility for health spending, along with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Therefore, the Taoiseach will not be able to blame the Minister, Deputy Reilly, when his Government takes up to €1 billion out of the people's health service.

Can the Taoiseach confirm the scale of cuts contained in the health service plan? Can he tell us when the Government intends to publish this plan?

Aontaím leis an Teachta maidir lena ndúirt sé faoin Athair Reid. Chas mé leis cúpla uair agus tá a fhios agam go ndearna sé obair dhian iontach i leith phróiseas na síochána, ní hamháin sa Tuaisceart, ach i dtír na mBascach sa Spáinn freisin. Níor chas mé go pearsanta leis ach cúpla uair, ach bhí díospóireacht agam leis. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.

The Health Service Executive has an obligation to produce its health service plan for acceptance and approval by the Minister for Health, based on the budgetary allocation to the Department of Health and the ancillary services. The plan was delivered by the Health Service Executive to the Minister yesterday, as is the HSE's obligation, with accompanying correspondence. The Minister for Health now has three weeks to reflect upon and consider that plan and give his comments on acceptance or amendment of the plan, as the case might be. That work is already under way, so I do not want to comment any further on it except to confirm that it has been delivered. I can also confirm that the Minister and his officials are now working on the presentation of the plan to see whether it is acceptable to him or whether he considers that it should be amended in one fashion or another.

The Taoiseach says the plan has been prepared and given to the Minister for Health, which is right. However, the Taoiseach avoided commenting on the new situation whereby his Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, along with the Minister for Health, have assumed responsibility for health spending. On top of all the other cuts we worry about, the Taoiseach has targeted €113 million of cuts to medical cards in 2014. That will result in thousands losing medical cards.

Kate McShane is a two year old with Down's syndrome, requiring heart surgery and long-term GP and hospital care. She has been denied a full medical card. When I brought this matter to the Taoiseach's attention he invited me to send details of this case and others to him, which I did. I did not get a reply from the Taoiseach but got one from the HSE. Most of the people were denied medical cards and only one had the decision reversed.

A question, please.

Kate McShane was denied her medical card. This is Kate. Amharc ar seo.

I am sorry Deputy but that is not authorised in the Chamber.

She is less than two years old.

The Deputy cannot display photographs in the Chamber.

She is a child but she is paying the penalty for the Taoiseach's austerity policies.

Can the Deputy put a question, please?

Can the Taoiseach tell us how he expects the health service to survive with cuts of up to €1 billion in 2014, on top of all the other cuts taken out of health by him and those who preceded him in government?

There is a process to be followed here. The process is that the Government decides on the budget and puts it through the Oireachtas. The HSE responds to the Minister for Health in respect of providing a health service plan to implement the effective running of health services based on the figures given to the Department in the budget. The Minister for Health has three weeks to reflect upon and consider that plan and give his approval for it.

What about Kate?

As I have already pointed out to the Deputy, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Health are currently examining the plan. The Minister for Health has a statutory requirement to respond to the plan and he will do so. The Minister's job is either to approve the plan or approve it subject to amendments. That process is already under way.

If Deputy Adams wants to present the face of a young child in the House, I cannot stop him.

It is contrary to Standing Orders.

If the Deputy wants to ensure that I get something myself, he should give it to me before I leave the Chamber. I will be happy to respond.

I have already done so. I sent it to you, Taoiseach.

A veritable river of material comes into the Department of the Taoiseach every week. I cannot, and do not, see every single item. Therefore, if the Deputy wants to give me something again, he should make sure that I get it myself personally.