The programme for Government refers to cross-party consensus on healthcare planning and a shared vision. Yesterday, the Taoiseach responded to my question – it is a pity he is not here today for my follow-up to it – about why the winter plan for hospitals had not yet been published. A report stated the plan should be published by July. The Taoiseach declared in a narky response that it was all the fault of nurses and consultants. The bottom line is that he insulted those at the front line. It was a classic case of blaming somebody else. When I asked him where the plan was, he said I should not mind the plan that is produced and talked about his own plan. He said the plans for the past six years were useless. That is more or less what he said. He attacked successive Fine Gael Ministers for producing winter plans that apparently had no impact. He told us at the time by the way that they would have a great impact. We were told every year they would have a great impact and now, hey presto, yesterday, when we asked where the latest winter plan is he said it was the fault of the nurses and doctors. Apparently, they do not turn up at Christmas time. That is what he said yesterday.

The Deputy's time is up.

He said it was the nurses' and doctors' fault.

Does Deputy Martin have a question?

That is how it has been received. When is the apology going to come from the Government in relation to that?

The Deputy asked when an apology will be made.

I also asked when we will see the winter plan for 2018-19.

I appreciate that it is political to twist what the Taoiseach said to suit a political narrative.

The Minister should read what was said.

I was here yesterday, as was Deputy Martin.

The Minister should know in that case.

Please allow the Minister to answer.

I appreciate that the Deputy has a particular narrative that he is anxious to spin, and that is fine, but the Taoiseach did not blame doctors or nurses.

Will the Minister come out of the fog for God’s sake?

He said it was appropriate that there should be a critical mass of doctors and nurses on duty and support services, including laboratories, should be available at the most challenging time for the health service. That is not an unreasonable point to make.

Whose job is that?

With regard to-----

Does the Minister not know that nurses and doctors work every Christmas? Who the hell keeps the lights on?

I appreciate that.

Come on.

What the Taoiseach was doing was challenging HSE management to make sure-----

He was challenging the nurses and doctors.

He took a cheap shot at the people on the front line.

The Minister's time is up.

What about management?

We will move on. I call Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

The Deputy does not want to hear the reply.

He does not want to hear any more of that ráiméis.

We had enough of that yesterday.

It was much better when Deputy Martin was over here.