Minister for Health Simon Harris has tabled a motion in the Dáil to establish a special committee in the Oireachtas to look at "a singular vision for the health service over the next ten years".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Harris said the committee will be able to hear witnesses, get expert submissions and report back to the Oireachtas and directly to the Ceann Comhairle within six months.
He said that will provide frontline staff and patients with "direction of travel regardless of political events".
Mr Harris said the new committee will have 14 members - four government TDs, three Fianna Fáil TDs, two from Sinn Féin and one each from Labour, Independents4Change, AAA/PBP TD, Rural Alliance and the Social Democrats/Greens.
The minster told the Dáil the move is evidence of politician's responding to the people's view in the general election and said while the new Dáil is diverse it need not be divided.
Min for Health @SimonHarrisTD says #Ireland needs "a singular vision" for the health service over the next 10 yearshttps://t.co/MuErlVsZXu
— Morning Ireland (@morningireland) June 1, 2016
"We need a singular plan, that regardless of whether you're a Fine Gael deputy, or a Fine Fáil deputy or a Sinn Féin deputy or a Social Democrat, or anyone else or Labour, you can say this is where we want the Irish health service to be over the next ten years, here's how we want to get there and crucially this is how it's going to cost," said Mr Harris.
However, one issue that the committee will not look at is abortion. Mr Harris said he believes abortion is a health issue and a separate citizen's assembly on the Eighth Amendment will be established in the coming months.
Fianna Fáil spokesperson for health Billy Kelleher welcomed the establishment of a health committee. However, he added that it was a very ambitious target of the committee to have its work done in six months.
He said there is not the capacity in the public healthcare system to deliver a service for all citizens.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly also welcomed the committee. She said it is true to say all TDs want a fair and efficient health service, but she said there is a two-tier health system in Ireland where people have to wait years for diagnosis.
Ms O'Reilly said what concerned her was that any potential models envisaged by the committee will be disregarded if the Government of the day does not agree with them.
