Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Fitzgerald in raising the issue of foreign travel by Ministers. I do not have any difficulty with Ministers going abroad, but the general populace would be appalled at the cost of VIP lounges and taxi fares. When RTE asked what benefit accrued from this, there was no answer from the Departments. Let us have accountability regarding foreign trips. By all means, let us use them to promote Ireland and the Irish diaspora who like to see Ministers, but how many members of the diaspora would know the junior Ministers who visit them?

Yesterday I raised the issue of neurology services and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to discuss this matter. The HSE who commissioned the report on the strategic review of neurology and clinical neurological services has not yet published the report. That is a crying shame. I ask the Leader to intercede with the Minister to ensure the report, currently with the HSE, is published.

I also ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the appalling cost of the deportation which Senator Hannigan raised yesterday. The cost of €100,000 is absolutely immoral. Perhaps the Comptroller and Auditor General will carry out a review of deportation costs. That €100,000 would pay for a neuro surgeon. It is an appalling indictment of the way the Government has dragged its feet.