Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I concur with previous speakers who requested a debate on Northern Ireland. The lesson to be learned from the election results is that we must question matters far more. All parties agreeing with one another is not necessarily the way forward. The former Senator and former deputy leader of the SDLP, Mr. Séamus Mallon, spoke on the radio today and was quite critical of British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the Taoiseach.

We must question issues and adopt a mature attitude towards Northern Ireland. We should be confident enough to query matters at all times in the interests of finding a lasting solution to the problems in Northern Ireland. I hope we can move on and have genuine debates on Northern Ireland.

I agree with Senator Ulick Burke about the need for a debate on the number of GPs in the country. It is a major issue in Carlow, where an individual recently found it impossible to get an appointment to see a GP because he was not an existing patient. In many areas it is very difficult for people to become patients of a GP. The individual I referred to spent over a week attempting to get an appointment and only after contacting eight different doctors, did he finally succeed. This issue must be examined and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to debate this in the House.

Could the Leader also ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House to answer questions on his café bar proposals? Does the Minister have a business model for such establishments and, if not, does he intend to produce one? He has spoken before the House on many issues but many people believe he has not thought this particular proposal through.