Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Wilson's welcome to the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources last night that there will be an independent study of all the implications of the new North-South, and ultimately east-west, interconnector, cables and pylons. I am proud that Fine Gael was to the fore in calling for this and congratulate Deputy Simon Coveney on his leadership in this regard.

Will the Leader ensure the Minister is aware it is important local voluntary groups are involved in the establishment of the independent study and have input in terms of personnel and terms of reference? This is critical to ensure their confidence in it. The terms of reference must be clear in addressing the question of whether it should be underground or overground. They must also address the costings and the route. The public must have confidence in the outcome. I urge the Leader to get clarification from the Minister to ensure it will be an independent process that will involve all the stakeholders and result in the confidence of the people.

I support Senator Fitzgerald's view that it is appalling there is not yet a solution to the pharmacists' dispute. The issue should go immediately to arbitration. The behaviour of the Health Service Executive in seeking to reduce the fees paid to pharmacists in anticipation of arbitration is wrong. It pre-empts the process. We should have independent arbitration that is not pre-empted by either side.

Will the Leader get an assurance from Government that the proposal in the recently leaked internal HSE memo for the withdrawal of services in local hospitals in the north east, including Cavan and Monaghan, will be withdrawn? It is appalling that in the absence of a super-hospital - which does not yet have a site and is ten years away at least - there is talk about the withdrawal of services. I urge the Leader to get a commitment from Government, which has executive responsibility in this area, to stop this nonsense. Someone lost the run of himself or herself in the drawing up of this plan.