Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

5:35 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, the Government made very strong commitments to Dáil reform. It is very regrettable, therefore, that the Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Social Protection and the Health Service Executive have been rushed through without any debate in plenary session. The Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Social Protection can only be explained by the fact that there are fewer people at work and more people out of work. This is why the €650 million is being sought. We could have done with a debate on that. In terms of the commitments in the programme for Government in respect of the social welfare Bill, could the Taoiseach indicate when he intends to bring that before the House?

The whistleblowers Bill is intended to give freedom to officials and people working in our public services to articulate issues. There is fear and anxiety across the health service in so far as nurses in particular are not allowed to articulate or advocate where patients are at risk. This has been communicated to me. I draw the Taoiseach's attention to the contradiction between driving through a whistleblowers Bill and at the same time gagging nurses and other medical personnel from speaking about what is happening in our hospitals and health service.

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