David Cullinan

So there is obviously ways in which those consequences and mitigation measures can be put in place.

I think so, and that's the point that I made.

So I'm accepting that it's not just straightforward abolish the charges on day one.

I think we do need to phase them out.

I think two or three years is a reasonable time period.

The problem is that has the work commenced with hospital managers and with the HSE to get to a point where we can do it?

So that's what I want to see.

We committed to that in our plan before the last election, but also in every budget we propose in our alternative budget costings to get to that point.

So we're not at any point at the moment where we're still at the starting gate.

And I know that the Irish Cancer Society and others have been raising the significant additional burden that these charges have on patients, but also people who visit patients, particularly people who might be in hospital for a week or two weeks or even longer.

If you have family members who are visiting every day, it is a significant cost over the course of a week or a month.

So I think it's the fairest thing to do if we want to get to reducing the cost of health care.

and implementing slanted care.

This is obviously one of the low-lying fruit measures that can be used to reduce the cost of healthcare for families and for visitors.

I don't believe that's fair because all political parties signed up to ShlantaCare and ShlantaCare was to deliver a single tier universal health care system free at the point of delivery.

So we have seen some movement in recent times in relation to hospital fees which have been abolished.

There is a consensus or there was at least on paper politically to reduce the cost of health care.

I think that if you want a fair health service and you want to reduce the burden on families, so the person who texts in the message might have a particular view.

My view is that we have to look at the consequences for patients, for people who visit hospitals, for staff.

I've already made the point that I don't believe this can be done overnight.