Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Yesterday in the House, a number of speakers said the Opposition was not realistic about the economic situation. I asked the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, whether the Government was realistic about the economic situation given the discussions and agreement at the social partnership talks some weeks ago. The Minister responded that she felt the economic situation had deteriorated further in those few weeks.

As I have said in the House in recent days, it is death by a thousand cutbacks. Today, the cervical cancer vaccination programme has been cut by the Minister for Health and Children. The Government is a like a headless chicken. It is a cutback here and a cutback there and is all very arbitrary. Where is the grand plan for economic recovery and to give hope to people in this country? Where is the plan to give the sense the Government is in charge instead of this constant stream of cutbacks here and there?

In the case of the withdrawal of the cervical cancer vaccination programme, three months ago the Health Service Executive suggested one approach while the Minister suggested another, and now the Minister has changed her mind again this morning. We see complete vacillation from one decision to another. Yesterday, the Taoiseach said the economy faces an extremely difficult time. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said the figures that came in earlier this week were more or less on target. It is very difficult to get any sense of a coherent plan from the Government and if we are finding it difficult here, what is it like for the public, who see decisions that are affecting frontline services but as yet no economic recovery plan? This morning on RTE we heard the details of this decision, which were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. We heard the HSE saying one thing and the Minister doing something else.

Yesterday many Senators called for debates on the economy and equality issues. I hope they will be on the schedule for the Seanad next week.