Maurice Hayes (Independent)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to attend the House to outline the arrangements to prevent paedophiles and other sex offenders from seeking asylum in this country? I also ask the Leader to refer the Minister to new regulations which are being introduced in Northern Ireland in this regard. It is important that such arrangements here should be compatible with those in the North, so that people cannot dodge from one system to the other. The Minister might wish to examine the Visor programme which the PSNI has introduced for tracking such people.

I also wish to support a debate on hospitals and look forward to participating in it. It is unfair for Members, even in a pre-election period, to keep reassuring people that one can maintain safe and efficient acute hospital services in all centres in this country.