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

Specifically, will the Taoiseach get the Department of Finance to clarify or the Minister of Finance to issue a statement on the reason the Department of Finance is not waiving its rights regarding the release of documents it has sent to the inquiry? The Taoiseach confirmed earlier that this was the position. This is a significant issue. It is extraordinary that a Department would retain its rights in this matter. It should co-operate 100% with the inquiry, which would mean waiving its rights with regard to the release of documents, including allowing the commission of inquiry to do so.

Earlier this year, the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, promised legislation to establish a hospital trust, namely, the children's hospital trust, on a statutory basis before the end of the year. The Minister made a significant statement last week regarding proposed legislation on such trusts when he indicated they that they should behave like commercial semi-State bodies. He also stated they should trusts which do not perform should be sent out to tender or their management transferred to a private provider for a certain period, which essentially amounts to the privatisation of public hospitals. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Bill providing for a children's hospital trust will be brought before the Dáil? In light of the statement made by the Minister last week, will the Bill provide for a significantly different type of trust for the national children's hospital from the one we were promised?

Will the Taoiseach facilitate a debate on the €600 million Supplementary Estimate for health? As we approach 2016, many acute hospitals have significant deficits and overruns. These hospitals are unclear as to whether portions of the €600 million will be allocated to them to eradicate their deficits entirely. Many have significant issues in terms of trolley count, accident and emergency overcrowding, tensions and stress on staff, waiting lists and so forth. A little more transparency than that provided to date is required on the €600 million Supplementary Estimate and how it will be allocated.

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