Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I raised concerns yesterday about the cutbacks affecting Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. There is a danger that the hospital will fall behind international norms for the treatment of various illnesses affecting children because of the cutbacks, not the quality of the service provided or the commitment of the staff. The cutbacks mean there will be longer waiting lists which mean children will not be treated when they need to be. If the Government believes €20 million can be saved between the three children's hospitals, its members should meet representatives of the three hospitals to discuss where they believe the savings can be made. The board told the committee it had requested such a meeting and pointed out that the HSE had no structure for dealing with paediatric services. There is no senior person dealing with paediatric services, which is beyond belief. Yesterday Senator MacSharry raised concerns about how a query raised by him had been dealt with. It is unbelievable there is no structure for dealing with paediatric services in the HSE. The Minister is relying on a new hospital to meet the needs of children who need operations now. The health boards were put together to form the HSE and this is the level of response. It does not make one hopeful for the proposed children's hospital and how it might meet the needs of children.

There are reports in the newspapers on a meeting with the social partners which suggest they are being briefed on the pensions time bomb. The OECD report states Ireland is among the worst in the world for the losses suffered by pension funds. Once again we see a Government which has taken its eye off the ball and where a reliance on property has led to a dramatic problem with pensions. Why can the social partners be briefed on Government plans for protecting mortgages, an issue which has been raised by many Members, and the pensions time bomb but Members of this House cannot?