Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

The Health Service Executive is playing a blinder on the public airwaves, whether on radio or television, with regard to swine flu. We have heard Dr. Tony Holohan discussing the issue on numerous occasions. Rather than having a debate in the Seanad which, as we have noted time and again, does not receive much media coverage, the debate is taking place in the media. The issue is in our faces — where it should be — because the HSE is doing a good job.

I concur with previous speakers' comments on the terrible crime committed yesterday against the Ronan family, one of whom works in the Bank of Ireland in Kilkenny. Tiger robberies are a new type of crime which appear to take place once or twice a week. They are among the most appalling crimes because they involve young children. While I support the call by the leader of the Opposition for the Minister to come before the House, I note from listening to the radio on my way here this morning that he is meeting representatives of the Irish Bank Officials Association and the Garda Commissioner today. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister to come before the House as soon as possible. Senators referred to the psychological impact on the poor Ronan family of opening one's door at 6.15 a.m. and finding oneself pushed into one's house by men with guns. This must be a terrible experience and I do not know how anyone would survive it. These crimes have a dreadful effect on bank officials going about their daily business. When they come home from work to enjoy their recreational time, they do not know what will happen to them in the safety of their own homes.

On an indirectly related IBOA issue, a large non-Irish bank operating in Ireland is now changing the contracts of workers who have been there ten, 20 or 30 years. In these economic times, when everybody is trying to do what is right, this bank is asking workers to take a cut in salary which is having an impact on pensions. I will give the information to the Leader and ask him to write to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan to find out if anything can possibly be done.