Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I can only make the points as best I can. I am trying to represent people's concerns that I know to be real and valid. I ask the Taoiseach to note that there are real problems within our acute hospital network in our health system. I appeal to him to take greater note of that fact in the interest of the right of people to access to care.

My last question is on the independent electoral commission. Among some of the points indicated in the entire proposition was that it would decide constituency boundaries, administer voter registration, run voter education programmes and advise on ways to improve the level of women's participation in political life. These are all fine and important developments that the independent electoral commission could undertake. It is part of the programme for Government dated 10 October 2009, which I have before me. When does the Government intend to establish this body? Are these not measures that would be important in terms of improving voter participation in the first instance and women's participation in public life? Each of these is an important objective and I would like to know how serious is the Government's intention to live up to that commitment in the revised programme.

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