Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I was delighted to hear the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, state on "News at One" yesterday that he would take determined, resolute and prudent action in response to the growing recession in which we find ourselves and to the ESRI report. As many other speakers have said, we need to know before the summer recess what he means by that and the action he plans to take. We need to be confident he will not wield the axe indiscriminately and that sensible action will be taken.

Did the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, intervene to prevent the loss of 580 jobs in Hibernian Insurance in Dublin, Cork and Galway? These are sustainable jobs needed to service the Irish insurance industry. The chances are that more of these situations are coming. How will she deal with them? The House needs to know the answer before the summer recess because we must have confidence that jobs are being protected. It will take much action by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and IDA Ireland to create 580 new jobs.

The Health Service Executive is not replacing front-line staff who are on leave. For example, if a speech therapist is on maternity leave or annual leave, there is no one to serve a child's learning needs. That speech barrier is preventing the child from learning. I know of a woman with a broken arm and a son with mental health problems who cannot get physiotherapy because the physiotherapist is on leave. There are no social workers to deal with 50 cases of reported abuse in Galway. The Minister for Finance needs to look at that area in which further cuts should not take place. Front-line services need to be maintained. The House needs information on the resolute, determined and prudent action the Minister for Finance and the entire Cabinet need to take prior to the summer recess.