Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Ross, McFadden, Doherty and Mullen once again stressed the importance of debating the economy on a weekly basis. As I have indicated on the Order of Business since we came back in early September, this has been the case and this week is no different. We will have the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009 all day on Friday and I am sure colleagues can make their contributions on the Bill with the Minister present. The assistance and advice that can be given by colleagues and Members of the House to the Minister, the Department and the Government has never been more relevant. This is particularly true with those who have vast experience in the banking area.

We have much difficulty because of the depth of the problem, which is being divulged on a daily basis. Until we get to the end of that we will not know when the corner will be turned. Much of the world will tonight look at television to see the first State of the Union address by the new US President, Barack Obama. There is also interest in the £500 billion that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposes to invest in the UK.

I have always been of the belief that until the US and the UK start to turn the corner and get their economies going again, we will not succeed in that regard as our economy is linked to theirs. We are learning on an hourly and a daily basis of the difficulties and operations that have occurred in the banks for a long time. That is being assessed and I hope that in the not too distant future, when all this is at hand, the master plan expected from the Government and the Taoiseach will be put in place, with corrective measures. How can one put a master plan in place until we know exactly the depth of the problem? We may know 80% of it but until such a plan is implemented, people must be realistic and reasonable.

Listening again to Senator Ross today outlining his serious concerns about the plight we are in, I will look forward to his contribution on Friday when the Bill is in the House. As I have often said, he has much experience in this area of banking and finance in particular.

Senators John Paul Phelan, Fitzgerald, O'Toole, O'Reilly, Keaveney, Norris, MacSharry and Doherty called for an urgent debate relating to the HSE. I will endeavour to have this take place at the earliest time next week. As we all know, this is an urgent issue as there is a proposed reduction of €1 billion from the €15 billion budget. Some of us served on the former health boards — Senator McFadden's father and I served with the Cathaoirleach and other colleagues in the House — which spent many days deliberating over budgets. Since the HSE took over, in the midland area there has been an increase in staffing levels of between 20% and 25%. If the difficulty is to arise in reductions, it should not be on the front line, with those who are working hardest or those who are most needed or serving the underprivileged. As has been stated this afternoon, reductions should target top-heavy administration. Why do we need top-heavy administration when there is high-tech computerisation? An in-depth analysis,which would take no more than a fortnight or three weeks, would provide answers. The Minister owes it to both Houses to have this done immediately.

There is to be a reduction, which should go back to the times when the former health boards did the work of the HSE with efficient staff and those on the front line at that time. The additional staff are doing good work but staff on the front line should be protected.

In a despatch yesterday a response to a question was that medical cards and the medical card scheme are very expensive. That sort of challenging talk will not be accepted by Government or anybody in either House of the Oireachtas. All that has been going on for some considerable time. Ultimately, we must look after those on the margins, the underprivileged and those who need it most. That message must go out loud and clear to the HSE.