Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to provide time for a rolling debate on the economy. This morning we hear that our standardised unemployment rate rose to 11.4% in April. That figure represents Irish people without a job. Senator Boyle may lament the fact that those of us on this side of the House are critical of what is happening but the reality is that there is no leadership, no plan and no vision. Those of us on this side have offered solutions including A NewERA for the Irish Economy, a response to the budget. We offered the hand of friendship in terms of the budget and it was slapped away by the Government. We must have a real debate on what is called leadership in Government.

I ask the Leader for an urgent debate, and I want him to answer this question when replying to the Order of Business, because we have an extraordinary position where this morning the Health Service Executive is introducing a new communications strategy. The place for communication and for answers is either here, in the Dáil or in the health committee where the elected Members on behalf of the people can ask direct questions of the HSE. If Mr. Connors and his crew want to bring in people to ask why the HSE and the health service is sick, so to speak, he should bring in the ordinary person who is suffering, the family of the late Susie Long and the families of people who have been on trolleys for days and let us have a real debate and real communication.