Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

That was a question. Can the Taoiseach identify what measures are in the agreement to protect workers' rights over and above the enforcement of existing labour laws? Does he accept that these laws should already be in force and should not now be used as a concession or a carrot on the part of employers or the Government? Sadly, that is the case. Regarding the NESF, does the Taoiseach recall my asking him over a year ago if he had studied the fourth periodic report on the work of the NESF? Does he recall that it updated the position on a number of previous NESF reports, including that covering equality of access to hospital care? I was quite particular in my focus on that. Does the Taoiseach agree with the NESF statement that it is required that a fundamental examination take place of the public private mix in the hospital network and that it is that public private mix in our hospitals that is the key contributory factor to perpetuation of the two-tier system? Will the Taoiseach wrestle with that matter?

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