Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join my colleague, Senator Hanafin, in calling for a debate on regulation. In particular, our European colleagues should take some leadership in developing a pan-European approach to regulation. While baby steps in several directions have been taken, nationally and internationally, it is clear that the definitive path that will lead the global economy out of the present turmoil has not been found. I ask the Leader to raise this issue with the Taoiseach, in order that, in turn, he can suggest to leaders throughout the European Union and globally that a global initiative should be taken immediately to come up with a regulatory agreement regarding the financial services industry. I refer to a few basic rules to which we will adhere globally into the future as we seek to emerge from the international recession.

Closer to home, as we continue to adjust the sails to deal with the winds we currently face, it would be most appropriate to hold an urgent debate on the Health Service Executive. The project of having 30% of the State's finances under the control of a third party organisation has failed. This issue must be addressed urgently and the Leader should take it to the Minister for Health and Children as a matter of the utmost urgency.

This leads me to a third issue that I believe also is of the utmost importance. The HSE and similar organisations have been established because for some reason we sought to erode the democratic mandate of politicians, be they councillors, Deputies or Members of this House. I believe that, as the people's representatives, regardless of whether they fail them, power rests with the Houses of the Oireachtas and local authorities. Simply because it has become the practice to take away from elected representatives the power to carry out work and expend money on services on the people's behalf does not mean that it is the law. I seek a return to democracy.