John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

There is no question, to use Senator Ryan's phrase, of "brutal market forces". They have nothing to do with the health service, as the Senator knows. In addition, the Tánaiste is on record as saying that she favours risk equalisation and community rating which will happen eventually.

I share the views of Senator Brian Hayes on the imprisonment of the unfortunate people from Mayo. We cannot intervene in the decision of the court because these people are in prison for contempt, which is a serious matter. A large multinational corporation such as Shell, however, has wider responsibilities. A spokesman for the company said that it had tried to approach the people who refused to be approached. I do not know whether that is true. We might do best to give the people seeking a solution some space and hope that will be achieved speedily and the people released.