The controversial Hanly report was backed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health in the Dáil last night. Ms Harney said she believed that the report set out the path to substantial improvements in services for patients, writes Michael O'Regan.
"Its emphasis is on ensuring a safe, high-quality and sustainable service in every hospital. It is not about closing or downgrading hospitals. It offers an extremely important role for smaller hospitals in meeting a high proportion of the hospital needs of the local community."
She believed the way forward lay in setting a constructive, innovative approach to implementing the agenda of hospital reform.
"We recognise that in order to improve acute hospital services, we need to develop them in close conjunction with primary care and continuing care," she said. "This will mean taking full account of the concerns of local communities and working with them to maintain and build up public confidence in every region in the development of our acute hospital services."
Ms Harney said she was committed to ensuring that private practice within public hospitals would not be at the expense of access for public patients.
Ms Harney was speaking during the resumed debate on the Private Member's motion, calling for reform of the health services, which was signed by Independents Dr Jerry Cowley, Mr Tony Gregory, Mr James Breen, Mr Paudge Connolly, Mr Séamus Healy, Mr Finian McGrath, Mr Paddy McHugh, Ms Marian Harkin and the Socialist Party TD, Mr Joe Higgins.
Mr Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central) said there had been enough "old guff" from the Government for the past two years and, more recently, on the question of the caring Government. "It is time now to end the talk, end the spin and get out there and provide the services."
He called for an end to means-testing the carers' allowance and for an extension of the disability allowance to those living in institutions without a State income.
The Labour spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus, said that nobody had forced Ms Harney to take on the position of Minister for Health. "It is her choice and it is her responsibility to ensure that patients access care when they need it."
The Government defeated the motion by 62 votes to 51.