James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I join with Senator Brian Hayes in expressing our disappointment that despite assurances given by the Leader yesterday that time would be made available at the end of statements for questions to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, it did not happen. The Leader should arrange another date for questions on this issue because there are still 41 unanswered questions about electronic voting.

Doctors, consultants, nurses and those who work at the coalface of the health service describe the Hanly strategy as flawed. It is important that we invite the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to the House to debate the chaotic and indefensible state of our health service. This centralised approach will not work. Last week there were more than 200 people waiting on trolleys in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area. There are long queues in the accident and emergency departments throughout the country. There was a roadside birth in County Cavan yesterday.