Seanad debates

Thursday, 5 June 2008

10:30 am

Photo of Ivor CallelyIvor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I listened with interest to the proposal from the leader of the Opposition with regard to the amendment of the Order of Business. I hope the Leader sees no great problem in accommodating such a debate. I am not sure I agree, however, with the urgency for it today. We all know there has been a slow-down in the economy and that this has impacted on tax revenue.

However, it is important that everybody recognises the positives and the progress made in the past decade. While Senator Frances Fitzgerald touched on infrastructural issues, she did not mention our low tax base or our tremendous progress in regard to unemployment. Many other positive things have been done. There has been huge investment in infrastructure. We know there are challenges ahead and that we must confront and overcome them. We must learn from the past and consider how best we can overcome problems in the future.

If we are to have such a debate, it should be meaningful and we should be informed when it will take place, what Member of Government will participate in it and the time allocated to each speaker so that we can put forward new solutions to these challenges.

An issue I raised previously is what mechanism exists to assist the Leader in responding to issues raised by Senators on the Order of Business? What type of co-operation and co-ordination exists between the Departments and ministerial offices with which the Leader must communicate? I am somewhat at a loss to understand why on many occasions it takes weeks or months to get a response in respect of an issue raised on the Order of Business.

I have also asked the Leader if he will obtain from the Department of Health and Children a detailed outline in regard to its policy for accident and emergency departments and if he will ascertain from the HSE the mechanism through which such policy is implemented, the criteria and supports in place in this regard, in particular in respect of each accident and emergency departments in Dublin. What co-ordiantion exists between departments in this regard?

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