John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I agree with speakers who have called on the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to discuss health issues. Senator O'Brien spoke about a sad development in his part of the world yesterday. It would be appropriate to ask the Minister to come to the House to debate health issues as soon as possible.

I also wish to raise with the Leader the possibility of having a debate on housing. We have not had one for a long time and we should have one now. We are resuming a debate today on planning, which is a closely related issue, but it is now appropriate to have one on housing, with particular emphasis on elderly single people, who are still at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to the provision of local authority housing. I am sure the Leader knows of many examples of people living in prefabs scattered throughout the country in conditions that are unacceptable in this day and age. I have asked for a debate on this matter before and I urge the Leader to use her good offices to arrange one as soon as possible.