Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Several building sites have recently been closed down for health and safety reasons. There is also evidence that some people acting as health and safety officers are not suitably qualified, the implications of which are a matter of serious concern to those who are qualified.

I strongly support Senator Leyden's call for a rolling debate on health service issues. I have called several times for the Minister for Health and Children to be invited here to discuss type 2 diabetes which is a serious matter of public health. We have often debated BreastCheck but there is also a serious issue concerning men's health. I am not being sexist but stating a simple fact. These are ideal subjects for discussion. I welcome the fact that we passed the Health (Amendment) Act. As Government spokesman in this House, I thank Members on all sides for their contributions.

Senator Leyden is correct that there is a void in regard to having a conduit from the service receiver to the service deliverer. Local public representatives are that conduit, which is now missing. It should be replaced sooner rather than later. We all said in this House that we were not afraid to push the boat out in regard to amending and updating health structures because the people who suffer are the general public.