Mary Henry (Independent)

I move:

In view of the proposals by the Department of Finance to raise funds by the sale of some Office of Public Works property, Seanad Éireann calls on the Minister for Finance to apportion the first moneys raised to the building of the long-proposed new Central Mental Hospital at Dundrum in view of the disgraceful conditions under which the patients in the present hospital are kept, despite repeated condemnation by international human rights bodies.

I am delighted to see the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, in the House. He is in charge of the important area of the sale of Government property. The Government does not have any more money of its own. Senator Brian Hayes was giving out during the last debate that I am always saying that the Minister for Finance should come to the House to discuss health matters, as the Minister for Health and Children has no money and the Minister for Finance makes the decisions. In reality, the Minister for Finance has no money of his own. The money he has is ours – it is taxpayers' money. As a compliant taxpayer for 35 years, I like to know what is happening to my money.

Most of the money raised by the State comes from taxpayers. It comes from people like me in the PAYE sector who send in their subscriptions on a regular basis. However, we seem to have little control over what happens to our money. Even if one is a Member of Seanad Éireann, it is very difficult to have much say over what happens with money because money Bills are not looked on in any favourable in the House. One cannot bring forward Private Members' Bills that would involve any cost to the Exchequer. We are, therefore, in quite a weak position, but we have some sort of duty to try to express our opinions on how money is being spent.

Over the years, taxpayers' money has been spent on buying property which is managed, on behalf of the State, by the Office of Public Works. I am sure it is managed very well. From time to time, the Office of Public Works sells various properties and buys others. However, it is not really involved in any major sales. We have made some major purchases such as Farmleigh House, the renovations to which cost a considerable amount. I did not make too many objections to that because I was of the opinion that if it was going to be a useful institution for the State, so be it.