Alex White (Labour)

Yesterday we agreed to the Order of Business as set out by the Leader who agreed to a further debate on the issue of health. I do not know whether he said this directly to the House but it was stated that a debate would take place on Shannon before long. Members will be grateful for this. However, there is a serious question mark over the coherence and credibility of the Government on a range of issues, including these two.

As the Leader prefers the Order of Business to be conducted on the basis of questions to him, I will repeat the question asked by Senator Frances Fitzgerald in case the Leader lets it go. Does he agree with the position articulated by the person who sat in his chair last year who said she was astounded at the removal of the Minister for Health and Children from the everyday running of the health services? Does he agree with her view that the presentation of the Government on these issues is all a morass? Those are the words of the former Leader. Deputy Mary O'Rourke made those comments. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, who is a member of the Government and subject to collective Cabinet responsibility, said that he cannot make head nor tail of the Health Service Executive and finds it impossible to deal with.