David Norris (Independent)

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald that we should be worried about the financial position within the health service. As an ordinary person I am rather surprised at the inaccuracy of the figures given as projections by the Department of Finance. I know this is not an easy area but these figures are remarkably inaccurate from time to time. This looks like a bit of a bump, the effects of which can be seen in the health service, even though significant amounts of money, approximately €15 billion, have been expended on the health service. However, too much of this is spent on administration and on the administration of the HSE whereas not half enough goes directly to the coalface. The result is that in the Cavan-Monaghan hospital operations are being put on the long finger and people's treatment delayed because a consultant anaesthetist takes a scheduled holiday and the hospital is not allowed to cover his absence because of financial stringency within the service. It is not acceptable that because a consultant anaesthetist goes on holiday, patients are deprived of treatment because coverage is not permitted. It is unprecedented and unprofessional.

I wish to raise a matter also raised by my colleague, Senator Bacik and other Senators, the question of the absence of legislation governing the control of trafficking of human beings in particular for sexual purposes. I raise this matter in light of the reports that Ireland is currently co-operating with police forces in 14 or 15 other European countries in this important area but this co-operation is being hindered by the absence of legislation. Ruhama has stated that the majority of prostitutes, sex workers, in this country are from abroad and that it has dealt with 200 cases of this kind of exploitation in the past year. It is not just an urban situation but happens throughout the country.

I welcome the fact that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, has increased the fine for littering. It would be a great relief in the city of Dublin and especially in the north inner city if we occasionally saw a litter warden. They are rarer than the greater spotted cuckoo. There is no point in increasing the fines unless we support this initiative by having litter wardens fining people.