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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Health service accountability reforms

Summary

Deputy Kelleher questions the lack of accountability following the abolition of the HSE board and seeks progress on health information and reform legislation. The Taoiseach says ministerial accountability has returned to the Dáil and the HSE is still to be replaced, though full reform may exceed the Government’s term.

I wish to ask about No. 48 in section B, the health information Bill and No. 99, the health reform Bill. The board of the HSE was abolished as one of the first acts of the previous Minister for Health in April 2011 and we were informed there would be accountability, in the context that the Minister would be fully accountable to the Dáil. However, we now find there is almost no accountability anywhere, because any time I table questions to the Minister, they are referred to the HSE and I have to wait a long time for a reply. When will we have a decision from the Government on what is to replace the HSE? We are now four years into this Government and there is less accountability. There seems to be nobody in charge. Can we have some time to debate the issue of accountability within the health service, because we have a Minister who is absent when it comes to accountability? We need this issue to be addressed in a meaningful, timely manner in advance of any general election, so that people know where they stand in terms of whether the HSE is to be abolished or retained as a castrated organisation.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

Do not be concerned about the general election. It is a long way away.

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Time moves along quickly here.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I do not have a date for publication of the health information Bill. The Deputy is aware that accountability and responsibility for the Vote in respect of health has been transferred back to the Minister for Health, who answers questions here in public on a regular basis. It is still intended to dismantle and replace the HSE. I have set out the timeline in regard to the move towards universal health insurance, which will have a single tier system, where every person will be treated equally, based on medical need as distinct from what how much they have in their pocket.

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Nobody believes that. The Taoiseach does not believe it himself.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

Even with the best will in the world, unless I was to introduce emergency legislation to extend the lifetime of the Dáil, this will be beyond our remit in this Administration.

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