Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I noted the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children's remarks in the other House last evening during its debate on health, in particular her comments on the Hanly report. It appears from those comments that she thinks the information campaign on Hanly has not been sufficient and that if we only got the right information, we would be persuaded about how Hanly is really good for us. She can fool some of the people some of the time, but she certainly will not fool people into thinking the Hanly report is good for the 26 communities due for a hospital downgrade under the Hanly reform programme. I have asked that the Minister come to the House to set out her health policy, in particular on the Hanly report. I call on her to publish Hanly II as soon as possible. This is an urgent matter considering her stated belief on the Hanly reforms.

Last week I asked to Leader to arrange a debate on children as carers. Will she widen that debate to include issues around children generally, in particular the issue of children in poverty? I ask that this be done soon so we can have a debate on the need for the Government to address the issue of children in poverty in the context of the forthcoming budget because much can be done in it. We clearly now have the resources to do so. As a reflection of our concern about issues around children, in particular those in poverty, I ask the Leader to give urgent consideration to such a debate.