Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader make time available as a matter of urgency to debate the Hanly report in the House, which we believe is to be made public today and for which we have waited so long? Many hospital management groups throughout the country are in a state of shock about the future of their hospitals. It is important that we debate the Hanly report and its consequences for hospitals at the earliest opportunity, either this afternoon or tomorrow. Portiuncula Hospital managers in Ballinasloe are fretting about to the contents of the report despite the fact that the Minister may have withdrawn some of the proposals.

I support the request of Senator Norris that we have the Minister in the House to explain why he has withdrawn funding for the One in Four group offering counselling for abuse. It is a most unusual response by a Minister and is vindictive in the extreme.