Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader make time available this week for an emergency debate about the disgraceful revelations in the programme on RTE last night concerning a nursing home? While the programme focused on one nursing home and most homes, private and public, are run in an exemplary manner, there is widespread public concern following last night's programme. It is clear that we need a statutory independent inspectorate which can issue reports in a more transparent way than is done by the Health Service Executive. Does the Leader agree that the health authorities should have the power to close down nursing homes which clearly are in contravention of public health regulations and regulations governing treatment of the elderly? This is a very serious matter which has exercised the country since the airing of last night's programme. The Minister of State with responsibility for the elderly should come into the House before the end of the week to make a statement on the matter.

I ask all Members on all sides who have expressed views in connection with the ratification process of the European constitutional treaty to hold their fire and not take up entrenched positions in advance of the Council meeting in mid-June when all member state Prime Ministers will gather to discuss the position after the French decision. Clearly, the French "No" vote, is a body blow to the treaty. We need time to reflect on it and see the consequences. Irrespective of one's position on the treaty, 90% of what is in the treaty is already in place in existing treaties. That will continue in place irrespective of the other 10% which is new. We need to learn from the decision in France and consider the anticipated domino effect — the objective that one country's support would lead to ratification in other countries. That will become unstuck now. I ask Members not to take up strong entrenched positions in advance of the mid-June meeting between all the EU Prime Ministers and leaders.