Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Senator Twomey raised the question of impending public sector disputes as regards decisions likely to be made on public finances. In this he was supported by Senators Joe O'Toole, Alex White, Paul Bradford, Terry Leyden, Larry Butler and Paul Coghlan. All in this House want to ensure such disputes do not occur. Whatever efforts can be made to bring about further dialogue should be initiated. Part of that dialogue should address the nature of the financial situation in which the country finds itself. While approaches differ as to how we might solve our fiscal difficulties, Ireland is borrowing between €400 million and €500 million every week. It is clear that our ability to borrow that money and the confidence of those whom we are borrowing from depends on us taking decisive and resolute action on 9 December. That action must involve all the actors in our society, in identifying the nature of the problem and appreciating the difficulty of the decisions that have to be made. I hope all involved in the public sector unions and those they are advising take that into account, while it is the responsibility of Government to ensure the debate is properly led.

Senator Twomey raised the question of nursing home charges and the unfair application, as he sees it, of the recently introduced fair deal. These are points that need to be brought out in a debate, and questions will be raised with the Minister to see how this may be addressed in the Seanad. The question of a fair deal was also raised by Senator Mary White, as regards registration fees with HIQA. These questions may be submitted together and a response reported to the House on whether a debate may be structured along those lines.

Senator Twomey also raised the matter of medical qualifications and said serious questions were being raised in this regard at junior doctor level in particular. This is a serious question and demands an appropriate response. In the first instance, given the technical nature of what is involved we need an appropriate response from the Department of Health and Children and the HSE. I shall undertake to ensure the Senator and the House are supplied with that information.

Senator Joe O'Toole asked about Dingle, Daingean Uí Chúis. My understanding is that the situation remains the same. A local government Bill will include in its provisions an ability to undertake local referendums, part of which will be the ability of the voters in any given area to decide the name of their locality. The hope is that the local government Bill will directly follow publication of the White Paper on local government at the end of this year. If there is any delay on that, I shall keep the Senator informed.

Senator Alex White asked about the NAMA lending process, paying inordinate attention to various quotations from today's newspapers.