Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate early in the new year about policy on the delivery of care for the elderly, particularly in light of last Monday's announcement by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. Against the background of creeping privatisation of elder care services, in line with the Minister's ideology, comes the introduction of a fundamental shift in basic health care delivery policy. If one is old and in need of long-term care, one has to put up one's house while one's family has to care for one beyond that. That is a fundamental change in how we deliver health policy and treats elderly people differently from the rest of the population. I detect a strong opposition to this policy.

On more than one occasion I have called attention to the fact that the establishment of the HSE has taken power and accountability over health policy out of the hands of elected representatives in the Oireachtas. We need to discuss this fundamental issue. The HSE has been established under legislation and we are a democracy. This House needs to debate how the HSE is working and the issue of democratic accountability for decision making. I have a major concern on the issue of elder care.

The recent budget did nothing to alleviate the high cost of child care to the many thousands of couples around the country who pay more on child care than on their mortgages and who expected the Government to meet their needs more than it is doing. That is only one of the child care issues that needs to be examined. What is the position regarding the proposed referendum on children's rights? Can we have an opportunity to discuss the fine report of the Joint Committee on Child Protection instead of concentrating on one issue of that report? There is much in it that Members of the House could valuably examine and debate in this public forum. I ask the Leader to arrange those two debates as soon as possible in the new year.