Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

While I accept the Cathaoirleach's advice about awards, it is important that we join Senator Leyden in congratulating Senator Regan on the illustrious award he received last night.

In the context of this morning's Irish Examiner report about personal medical files, I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange an urgent debate on data protection and accountability of the HSE and the former southern health board. We are discussing people in this regard, not clients or users. Sensitive information about a person should not be disposed of carelessly and without accountability. It is not good enough that sensitive information is strewn around the countryside or lost in cars. How did it get there and who was responsible? We need answers and accountability from those who were in charge.

This morning's reports on overcrowding in prisons make disturbing reading. It is unfair on prison officers and staff to work in such conditions and it raises the question of what we want the Prison Service to do. Is the function of prisons rehabilitation or incarceration? Are they punitive or can we reform people? The dispute which began between prison officers and the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, is warming up again. Prison officers are concerned about the situation which is developing. That is bad for morale and the Prison Service.