Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Hanafin's call for a debate on the retail trade. The Tesco store in Sligo was among the outlets which changed its pricing structure to reflect the prices available in the North. I spoke to people last night who visit the North once or twice per month to shop and now indicate they will shop south of the Border. I welcome Tesco's decision. I heard a spokesperson for the company state on a radio programme yesterday that it plans to extend its new model. We, in the Republic, especially those in the retail trade, will benefit greatly from the new pricing structure in the long run.

I also support calls by several Senators from all sides for a debate on the impasse which has arisen between the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan, and the Health Service Executive. I listened to both sides this morning on "Morning Ireland" and could not get a sense that the HSE was complying in the way it should have been. I felt the Ombudsman was correct in being annoyed with what was going on. Like Senator Walsh said, it is ridiculous that every time an issue arises the HSE would expect to have legal representation on both sides. I say this with respect to the legal people in this House, but everybody knows that where one has legal people present very little will be said and very little can be achieved, particularly when one has an impasse such as this. I ask the Leader, if we are not to have a debate on this matter over the next day or so, to make representations to the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Barry Andrews, and ask him to intervene in the dispute. On other occasions when we have debated other issues such as child abuse in the House the layperson liked to see the issue resolved.