Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I join the Leader in expressing my delight at the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt, after being held in captivity for six years. This is wonderful news. We raised the issue in the House on many occasions. Perhaps at some point in the future, when she has recovered from her ordeal, we may be able to invite her to address the House. However, it is critical that international attention does not disappear from this issue because the most high profile hostage has been released. The FARC rebels continue to hold many people, perhaps up to 700. This is an issue, therefore, on which international attention should definitely continue to focus. In the House, we should continue to keep in touch on this issue and to raise it with the Minister for Foreign Affairs in order that he can raise it at international fora. It is wonderful news after the harrowing ordeal she and the other hostages have had.

I want to raise an environmental matter this morning, given the situation in Haulbowline and the serious worries about the studies showing higher cancer rates. This will raise concerns throughout the country because the whole question of the disposal of toxic waste and the management of sites that need clearance are critical issues.

I particularly want to raise this with the Leader and Deputy Leader because two matters have come to my attention. Last week the European Commission initiated legal proceedings against Ireland because we have failed to implement the environmental liability directive. It has also emerged that we are the only country out of 27 not to have signed the Aarhus Convention. If the aforementioned directive and convention were in place, we could deal with the situation in Cork more effectively. The public would have more access to information and could demand more from the Government in terms of action on the issue.

I ask the Leader to indicate the Government's timeframe for signing the environmental liability directive and the Aarhus Convention and for bringing them into effect, which would mean that Irish citizens were more empowered on environmental matters. This is the kind of legislation that would give citizens some belief in the European agenda. Indeed, it might have made a difference to the Lisbon vote, if people felt that some of the initiatives coming from Europe were empowering them. It would make a real difference. I ask the Leader to respond to my questions and perhaps we could have a debate in the House on these issues.

Obviously the big news today is the release of economic figures from the Department of Finance, which are disastrous. The days of the Taoiseach and former Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, trading on his reputation for sound economic management are over. Clearly he did not take note of the many reports which highlighted that the economy was over-reliant on the construction sector. He has mismanaged the finances of the country and we are now in an appalling situation.

Cutbacks are effectively happening in front-line services, despite what is being said at Government level. Any Member in this House could give a list of areas in health that are already experiencing cutbacks. Next week when we debate the economy in this House, I want to know what direction is being given to the Health Service Executive. What economic management will take place in the executive? I ask for transparency with regard to the cuts, as opposed to Members hearing from individuals about the effects of such cuts, whether in speech and language therapy, medical services, accident and emergency departments, hospitals in Galway with no receptionists because of a lack of staff and so forth. This is what is happening in front-line health services. Cutbacks are being implemented and we must have some transparency from the HSE and the Government in terms of what is happening on the ground at the moment, as opposed to vague talk about a future economic plan. I ask for real engagement in this House concerning the cutbacks that are taking place.