Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Twomey, Mary White, Ross and Coghlan expressed serious concerns about the unavailability of broadband throughout the country. I share their concerns in this regard. It is a serious challenge. It is necessary infrastructure which we all would like to see in place more quickly. I intend to allow as much time as Senators require for a wide-ranging debate on broadband. We must go through this county by county and hold to account those responsible for this portfolio.

This is the most important technology which could be put in place, especially in areas where difficulties are being experienced by the manufacturing industry. This is a new opportunity for people to create new jobs. As those of us who have been in business for a long time know, business is not about profit but about overheads. If one's overheads are looked after, one's profits will follow. Many people could run their businesses from their homes more cheaply than at present, especially if they are paying high rents and where it is not competitive to continue with the traditional family business.

Senator Ross referred to No. 13 on the Order Paper. If the Bill is presented, I will accept it and progress it to Second Stage when we can discuss the pros and cons of it and perhaps assist the Government with its Bill.

Many Senators, including Senators Twomey, Hannigan, Feeney and McFadden, expressed serious concerns about health care. Some very good suggestions were put to me, although some people were playing politics. Patients must come first. Senator Twomey has come to this House with a wealth of experience and when he talks about the medical profession, I listen attentively to him but when he talks politics, I consider what he says in a different light.

No Minister has come to the House more often in the first year of this Seanad than the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I will endeavour to arrange a debate with the Minister before the summer recess to update us on what is happening with the Health Service Executive. As someone who served as a member of the Midlands Health Board for more than 18 years, as did the Cathaoirleach, I know that we should not consider removing services from areas until they are available in the new destinations. That is common sense. Those suffering from the dreadful disease of cancer want to be assured that will happen. We heard on radio this morning about someone who had been deceased for 17 years getting a call. Much tightening up needs to be done.

The will is there on all sides but the patient must come first. All those in public life want to do the right thing for the patient. Three times more funding is available now than ten years ago, so it is not a question of funding. Those of us who were Members of this House in the 1980s and 1990s were always told something was a very good idea but that funding was not available. At least funding is now available.

Members with the expertise should get together and assist the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to see what it can do to move forward in a positive way. I am sure the Minister and the Department are open to good suggestions which could assist.

As was outlined earlier, there are examples of best practice in Australia and New Zealand. Let the committee visit those destinations immediately and produce a report which could be acted on. That could speed up the process. Money may not always be available because, as we know, the economy is cyclical.

I call on Members with experience of, and expertise in, the health service and to whom I listen attentively on the Order of Business to assist the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. I will provide a day or two days on their return from Australia or New Zealand to debate their submission or report and see how the Seanad can play a part in ensuring we do what is right in terms of the allocation of next year's Estimate and allocation from the Department of Health and Children.

Senators asked that a programme of the business of the House be printed monthly. The Seanad is the same as the Dáil and takes its instructions from Government which usually makes a decision at its Tuesday morning Cabinet meeting. We are instructed as to what our business will be for the Thursday of that week and for the Tuesday and Wednesday of the following one. That is the way Government operates.

I can plan forward and as Senator Mary White said, I gave a date of 17 June for statements on older citizens, the challenges they face and the opportunities for those great experienced people who can still make a marvellous contribution to our country.

I have no say with regard to planning what legislation will be debated. That is decided by Government at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday mornings. However, I will do anything I can to help and assist the leaders of all parties and the Whips. I have an open door and I have created an opportunity to sit down and meet for a half hour on the first sitting day of every week to discuss the best way to deal with business. I inform them of the business ordered by the Government and try and facilitate each party in the House. That is as much as I can do in that regard. If a Senator is available and wishes to raise a particular issue, I try to facilitate the diary of that Member as well as I can.

Senator Norris congratulated Senator Bacik on her initiative with regard to women prisoners and the prison service. He, along with Senator Regan, called for clarification on the various views expressed on the Lisbon treaty and the World Trade Organisation talks. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was in the House yesterday to debate the WTO talks and the Taoiseach will make a major statement this morning at the forum on the treaty. We all want to see clarification on the challenges facing the farming industry. I know this clarification will come before the referendum. I will make further inquiries on the matter and report to the House next Tuesday.