James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to attend the House to discuss the recently published AgriAware report. It is a national report in which the opinions and attitudes of rural dwellers to building in rural areas are assessed. There is a great deal in the document, which the Minister and planners should note. It is a very important report, which we should debate in this House. According to the report, rural communities are in favour of the current level of housing development and welcome new residents.

I call for a further debate on Hanly because we had confirmation from the Minister last night that Hanly will be implemented in full, resulting in the closure of 26 accident and emergency units throughout the country. Politicians on the Government side stated from time to time that Hanly was dead, was binned. It appeared last night that some of the politicians on the Government side were not only muzzled but binned.