Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I want to express horror at the statement made by the IRA. These are people who have beaten a path to the European courts and have sought sworn inquiries on everything. They are also prepared to murder people without any sort of due process. It does point to the precedent which Senator Mansergh has so accurately drawn. That point of decision has come for today's Sinn Féin and their leaders should take it.

Can the Leader ask the Minister for Health and Children what steps are being taken to assess the risk in hospitals for the hospital bug? There has been strong activity on that in the North and I wonder whether it has been replicated here. I did not have time yesterday to raise the issue of children being taken into care. I do not wish to go into the details of a particular case. However, looking at the matter from a health economist's viewpoint, it would cost approximately €2,000 per week to put four children into care. It will make matters worse if they are split up. If, on the other hand, that family was given €2,000 per week it would sort out many of their problems.