Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I was very pleased, as, I am sure, was the Cathaoirleach, to see one of the midland hospitals, namely, the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, named as one of the top performing hospitals in the country. This is against a background of efforts by certain members within the HSE to transfer services from Mullingar to elsewhere. I would welcome an early visit by the Minister for Health and Children to the House to tease our these matters.

I was very pleased that someone has taken the initiative in respect of the whole area of men's health. An event pertaining to that will be held in the very near future. I intend to be there and I advise everyone of the male gender to attend. As a man, I can state with a good deal of conviction that men are not the greatest people in the world for looking after their health. We tend to do so on the prompting of our spouse, partner, sister, mother or perhaps a female friend. It is a very important area of public health and I would welcome an early debate on the matter. I succeeded in securing such a debate in the last Seanad and I would welcome one again because it is very important.