Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I reiterate my call for a debate on No. 20 on the Order Paper concerning MRSA and blood infections in hospitals. Last week was significant because on Friday last, for the first time, a coroner's court listed MRSA as a cause of death. A coroner's court in Belfast reached the same verdict yesterday regarding a 43 year old man who, unfortunately, did not recover from an accident at work because he contracted MRSA. It is shocking to consider what is happening in hospitals and an urgent debate on the matter is required.

I welcome the blueprint unveiled by Greencore for a major development in Carlow. I repeat a call on the company made by Deputies in the other House that it honour a commitment laid down by the Labour Court regarding a small number of workers from the Carlow plant who are still owed money. With a judicial review of the European Union sugar beet compensation scheme due in December, I urge Greencore to settle the case quickly, pay growers and workers and allow us to proceed to the next phase. It is not necessary to wait any longer and, unfortunately, no action can be taken on the Carlow site until the company settles the case. If it refuses to do so, everybody will lose out.