The new health minister has said there needs to be input from all parties on building the future of the health service.

Simon Harris has said he is considering a motion from 89 opposition TDs to set up a special committee on health.

It would hear from experts and deliver a report on the future of the health service within six months.

Simon Harris has said it is essential a 10 year plan for health is put in place: “You know health ministers come and health ministers go, the health service and the people of Ireland need to know that there is a certain direction of travel that the health service is going to go in regardless of who the minister for health is and regardless of who is in Government.

“We have a very unique opportunity now with a very disparate Dáil and indeed with a minority Government, to ask opposition and Government TDS, to come together to listen to experts, listen to stakeholders, listen to patients, listen to staff on the front line who are the experts, to try and identify where possible the consensus.”