Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for the Minister for Health and Children to come before the House to outline the position in respect of pharmacies. It emerged from yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children that the Minister informed the HSE that it must find €100 million in cuts in respect of the distribution of medicines. It appears the backs of the HSE's staff are to the wall and that they cannot allow the 1 March deadline to be extended. There is a need for the Minister to come before the House to clarify matters.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come before the House? The Minister recently introduced new building regulations and new planning guidelines. A debate is required in respect of both and I would welcome it if the Minister were invited to the House.