Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Every Senator in this House is conscious of the very serious situation facing our country. As we visit our areas and speak to people, we find the public are deeply concerned, upset, frightened and looking for action, asking, "What is the solution?" They want to know who will come forward with a package of measures that will save our country, whether economically, politically or in banking. There is talk of a national Government.

When we have had a national Government in the past, it has been when there has been a minority Government and it has looked for support. This Government has a majority and can put forward whatever messages it chooses and whatever package of measures it chooses. However, what is required is decisive leadership.

As I said before, Fine Gael has put forward a package of measures which Members will see tomorrow night in the Private Members' motion on banking. What is the Government's response to that package of measures which Fine Gael has put forward to deal with the banking crisis?

We put forward proposals on public sector reform and decentralisation. We have talked about public sector reform over the past five years. Why has the Government not responded to these points we have been making, which would make a difference and would have meant we could have stopped some of the worst of the excesses we have seen in public spending and the serious financial situation in which the Government finds itself?

We will play our part, of that there is no question. The public wants every Member of the Oireachtas to play his or her part in leading our country out of this appalling abyss which we face in the range of areas I have outlined. I want to highlight the constructive nature of the proposals we have put forward and I ask for a Government response to them.

I wish to raise the HSE decision. There will be a €1 billion cutback in the health service. This cutback, which is so enormous and which has such implications for frontline services throughout the country, should be discussed in this House. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to outline to us the Government's view on this €1 billion cutback in the health service. What will its impact be? What services will close? Where will the cutbacks be made?

We have talked about reform of the HSE, about administrative reform and about how badly the move to the HSE was handled. Where will the reforms be made? Where will the cutbacks made? Who will pay the price? I would like the House to discuss this before a decision is taken by an unelected body later this week or next week. I would like Members on both sides to have an opportunity to take part in a debate about the radical changes which will be necessary if we are to continue to provide frontline services across the health service, which we should continue to do despite this recession. Let us have the debate in this House and let us talk together about the changes which are necessary to save this type of money, if it must be saved in our health service.