Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

In the light of what we read in the newspapers this morning, that the country faces the worst economic crisis seen anywhere in the last 60 years, according to the IMF, and the fact that it calls for cuts in public sector pay and numbers, increased taxes and an end to universal payments, we should have an early debate on the wider economy. After the Order of Business we will discuss legislation, but we should have an early debate on the economy in the light of the fact that it is expected to contract by 13.5% and that the level of unemployment is to exceed 15%. An early debate on the matter is very important, especially to give Senator Hanafin the opportunity to express his views on the economic prudence of the Government in the light of the figures about which we read this morning.

I also ask the Deputy Leader for a debate on the health service and would like to move a motion that we have this debate after the Order of Business. Government policy on the health service seems to be in tatters. There is major concern about the corporate management of the HSE. I, therefore, ask the Deputy Leader to contact the board of the HSE to see if it still has confidence in its CEO and senior management. It is bad enough that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, seems to have lost touch completely with what is happening in the health service, but there is a concern and rumour that the board of the HSE has lost confidence in the CEO, Professor Drumm, and his senior management team and what is happening at corporate level in the HSE. The matter urgently needs to be clarified in the light of the major importance attached to the service the HSE provides for the people.