Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will not have the opportunity to speak on Report Stage of the Finance Bill 2008 but wish to refer to amendment No. 24. We should not divide the country into regions according to death rates. In respect of hospice provisions, the amendment states "not less than 20 in-patient beds". There are hospices throughout the country with fewer than 20 inpatient beds. We do not want a situation where a hospice in County Wexford or County Cork is approved but one in County Louth or County Offaly is not. If the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance amended the amendment to state "more than 12 or 14 in-patient beds", it would be very beneficial and there would be equality across the board. It would also give a sense of dignity and respect to those who are terminally ill and who must go into hospices.

I understand that at the meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children a few moments ago, it emerged, and was confirmed by the HSE, that a letter was written by Mr. Peter Naughton to the Tánaiste's successor in the Department, the Minister, Deputy Michéal Martin, in 2002. The Irish Times sought evidence of such a letter under the Freedom of Information Act but it did not emerge. Deputy Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children in the Dáil if there was such a letter but she said not according to her information. By confirming that such a letter existed and by making it public, it now appears that somebody tampered with this file which is evidence of an attempt to cover up a request for information made to the Tánaiste's successor about a very serious matter in Portlaoise hospital.

Political accountability should take place in this Chamber and I will request that time is allocated next week for a full discussion on this issue and the way it was handled. This is too important for nobody to be blamed, for it to be considered a systems failure and for the buck to be passed again. I will make a request, through our Whip, for a full scale debate on this issue because if somebody removed, covered up or altered that file or dictated that the evidence therein not be presented in the face of a freedom of information request by Deputy Reilly, it is scandalous and disgraceful and we need to find out the truth. Political accountability should occur in this Chamber.

I welcome the fact the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, or his office, has given an instruction to the Minister for Education and Science to sort out the problem in regard to autism. If she agrees to sort it out, any announcement about a change in Government policy in regard to facilities for autistic children should be made in the House. On three occasions in the past week, I have asked the Taoiseach to give me a report on the opening of the autistic unit at Castleknock Educate Together school. The Tánaiste will be aware that this situation has arisen on foot of a difficulty that exists between the Ministers for Education and Science and Health and Children. The child at the centre of this matter has been offered a place at a facility which is located two hours' journey from the family home. That is an appalling response, particularly when one considers that said journey would have to be made through Dublin traffic.

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