Hospital Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-09
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David Cullinane (SF), Waterford

That is a sensible approach. I do not disagree with it. I welcome the fact that there will be an audit because data is rich when it comes to allowing all of us to see what is happening under the bonnet of hospitals and the level of private activity. I am not against private healthcare, by the way, but it needs to happen in private hospitals. Where it happens in public hospitals, it has to be within the rules.
The Minister and I might disagree on many different issues, but where we do agree is that we need to send a message to the healthcare system in its totality that Sláintecare is not up for reconsideration. Removing private healthcare from public hospitals is supported, I hope, by every party in this Dáil. Making sure that contracts that were signed in good faith are honoured is something that we all have to get behind. It is also about making sure that if there is any pushback at all, or any attempt to undermine any of that work, then all of us have a responsibility to watch what is happening and play our respective roles in that. This is one of those important issues in healthcare. I know the Minister is active and vocal with regard to it, but this House and the health committee have a role to play in it as well.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09