Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I support Senator White's call for a debate on child care. In the course of such a debate, I hope Members including her acknowledge it is their Government which has overseen the debacle which has arisen from the failure to provide for child care.

Like Senator Brian Hayes, I was very concerned at the muzzling of speakers last night during the worthwhile and important debate on health issues, including the implementation of the Hanly report. It occurred to me that some Members were stuck for words rather than being muzzled as a result of the clarity of the remarks on the report's implementation by the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley.