Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join others in welcoming the opportunity to debate the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008 tonight. Not wishing to pre-empt what we might say on it, may we all share the wish for improved regulation and to minimise the risk and ensure we are most diligent in carrying out what we all hope will be a positive contribution to the economy? I look forward to a robust debate later in order that we can all contribute to improving that legislation and ensuring it is sound.

Following on from what Senator Michael McCarthy said about BreastCheck, it would be beneficial if we had a debate on the roll-out of BreastCheck. I fully sympathise with the poor family in Cork where a deceased woman was called for a mammogram. Indeed, there are many people in the north west who have not yet had the opportunity to have a mammogram because BreastCheck has not been rolled out there. I recall having a robust debate on radio with a member of the Opposition and saying it would be rolled out in our area in 2006. However, I very much regret the fact it has not been rolled out. It would be prudent to have a debate at this point and to ask the Minister for Health and Children when it can be rolled out.

It is appropriate that we are preoccupied with the economy at this time but it is also the time of year when many local authorities begin to prepare their budgets for the coming year. As our electoral base comprises predominantly local authority members, it would be appropriate to debate local government funding on an ongoing basis because it is a very important issue.