Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

The public is outraged at the ongoing cancellation of operations for children in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, should be asked to outline to the House the funding decisions which have led to the ongoing cancellation of vital surgery for young children. Given the wealth this country has had, it is outrageous that young children's operations are being cancelled in this centre of excellence. I ask the Leader to convey our views on this matter to the Minister.

A number of Members on this side of the House are concerned that, on an ongoing basis, we are taking all Stages of legislation on the same day. I am concerned at the management in the House of this matter and ask the Leader to ensure there is time between the different Stages of a Bill so that we can consider them adequately.

Perhaps the Leader will comment on the spat between him and the Deputy Leader on the filling of the two Seanad seats, for which there will be an internal election. We do not yet have Seanad reform and therefore the public will not have a say in the filling of these seats. When will the Seanad by-elections be held? Will an additional seat be offered by the Government to the Green Party as part of the ongoing political drama in which it is engaged and, if so, does that mean the filling of these seats will have to wait until the programme for Government has been renegotiated in the coming weeks and months or will it be tackled immediately? Will the Government give us a date for the by-elections?

I ask the Leader to ensure there is debate in the House before the end of this term on the Lisbon treaty guarantees. We should not take the public or its vote for granted in the lead up to the vote on the Lisbon treaty. We must discuss in the House in a timely manner the detail of those guarantees.