Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

It seems that none of our gentlemen colleagues feels it worthwhile to speak about equality and I am very disappointed in the level of support we have received in the House.

With regard to swine flu, I heard Senator Feeney's comments but cannot agree with them. The HSE created much spin on the national airwaves but in the midlands, doctors in the Athlone area still have not received the vaccine. People are going to general practitioners' surgeries but they are unable to get the vaccine. The HSE is speaking the speak but not walking the walk.

I visited a school on Monday and the youngsters asked me to raise the issue of the change in the junior certificate Irish paper. The teachers were notified last week of the change in the type and form of the paper. The junior certificate children whom I spoke to asked if it was fair that they had been studying the curriculum up to then but were landed with a bombshell that the paper would be changed for their exam. The school in question was in the Leader's constituency so perhaps he will help us reply to those youngsters.