Much has been said this morning about the health service. The health service is in a state of chaos. I have been speaking to management and front line staff in the HSE, particularly in my county, and they do not know if they can meet the demand from patients or whether they will be obliged to close down services between now and the end of the year. All of that is happening with the cuts being proposed by the Minister for Health. In addition, we have a situation which was described by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on Sunday night as stroke politics. I heard his comments on the selection process for the primary care centres. That was the lightning rod that culminated in the decision taken last night by the former Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Róisín Shortall. She basically said enough was enough. The Labour Party and Fine Gael made sure that Deputy Shortall's stay in the Department of Health was of short duration.

Is the Senator asking for a debate on the issue?

I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Health to the House to explain what he is doing-----

He was here yesterday.

-----and to advise us why he was not the person to resign.

The Senator did not bother to come in yesterday.

The wrong Minister resigned. Deputy Róisín Shortall showed great dignity, courage and commitment. She identified the problems, but the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste chose not to stand by her. They should hang their heads in shame.

I have already ruled out a debate on Deputy Róisín Shortall.

It is time for the Minister for Health to come clean and tell the people what he is doing or to step aside and let somebody else who can do the job do it.

The Senator did not bother to come here yesterday.

Words are cheap, but not one person stood by Deputy Shortall. The Senator can say what he wishes.