Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader consider an early debate on health issues? In this session, it is important that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, should have an opportunity to outline her policies, particularly regarding the Hanly report. This should be a definitive statement on the future of the health services, which hopefully will not be based on that report.

The incidence of the mixture of public and private facilities in hospitals creates major difficulties. I am aware of a public patient who was sent to the radiology department of Portiuncula Hospital, a public hospital for which I had the pleasure of signing the purchase contract on behalf of the Government.