Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I agree with Senator Mullen on the subject of end-of-life care. People who have given a contribution to the country all their lives find there is no plan for them at this time. We must ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss the incorporation of such plans into the HSE service plan for those who are at the end of their lives.

Today we saw a discussion in The Irish Times about the imposition of a blanket ban on recruitment at third level institutions by the HEA, which is of concern. However, it would be worthwhile to have a discussion about how we will rationalise courses that may have to be dropped at third level. Perhaps before the academic year starts in the autumn we could have a discussion on the recruitment ban for part-time and contract staff as well as on funding. We may have to rationalise courses but we should discuss how this is to be done and whether it is possible, for example, to have fewer courses and perhaps modules incorporated into long-term courses.