Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I also welcome the ongoing debate on Seanad reform. Everyone is aware that the House and its Members have a serious responsibility in terms of the consideration of such reform. We are all committed to it. This is an important debate and I commend the Leader on the commitment she has shown in this area.

On behalf of my party, I welcome the Reverend Ian Paisley and the DUP delegation to Dublin for what is an historic day. Many of us would never have believed it possible for this to happen, particularly in the context of what we hope will be an historic breakthrough. All our best wishes go to the delegation and to everybody involved in the talks which will hopefully lead to the progress we all want to see in Northern Ireland. I wish the new Minister for Foreign Affairs well in that regard.

On the subject of new Ministers, the appointment of the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, to the Department of Health and Children is generating a certain fear and trepidation in some parts of the country. I refer, in particular, to the areas in which are situated the 26 hospitals earmarked for downgrading in the Hanly report. I listened carefully to the Tánaiste's remarks from the Dáil yesterday, as played on "Morning Ireland" earlier, and I welcome what appears to be her very open attitude to the concepts of equality of access, quality health care and very high standards of delivery. We all want to see these being put in place. However, there is a genuine fear abroad regarding what the implementation, in its entirety, of the Hanly report will mean and questions remain as to whether it is the Tánaiste's intention to implement it in full.

Will the Leader ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to come before the House at the earliest opportunity to outline, as broadly and in as much detail as possible, her intentions regarding health policy? I and many others have open minds in respect of those intentions and I look forward to hearing them. I assure her that the communities to which I refer will continue to fight hard for local access to quality acute care.