Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I too support calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to immediately call a halt to his current plans regarding electronic voting. I understand he will launch the system this morning. I supported the idea of electronic voting in principle, but I am greatly concerned now, based on what I have read and heard. Those concerns are shared by the public. We are facing an election in a few months' time in which people do not have full trust in the system they are being asked to use. It is up to the Government to correct that situation. It is not good enough. I accept Senator Hanafin's view that there may be glitches in the current system. However, the fact remains that people must have trust in a system that is transparent and open. Given that there is cross-party concern about this issue, I ask the Leader of the House to ask the Minister to take our views on board and to take them seriously.

I ask the Leader of the House to organise a debate on the issue of the care of the elderly. In light of the remarks of the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, on this matter, it is very important that we clarify policy on this issue. I have long been of the view that it is time to call a spade a spade when it comes to current Government policy on the care of the elderly, which is to privatise such care and make it extremely expensive. We have reached a stage where many people cannot afford to have their relatives cared for.

I ask the Leader to give her view on the comments of her colleague, Deputy Davern——