Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Oil prices are beyond our control but we can control VAT charged on gas and ESB bills.

I agree with Senator Ryan about roadworks. I listened to Joe Duffy's show on radio last Thursday when there were young people with babies stuck in their cars for three or four hours, and diabetics without the proper medicine. It was scandalous that traffic came to a halt for three or four hours and in some cases seven hours. There should be a system whereby if roadworks take place, somebody takes charge to keep the traffic moving at all times.

I would like a debate on health. It is becoming increasingly difficult to know what the real picture is. We are bombarded with daily bulletins about the state of the accident and emergency units and if we were foolish enough to believe them, we would think the problem had been solved.