Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators, McFadden, Bacik, Coghlan, Buttimer and Glynn called for a debate on the health services. I refer in particular to Senator McFadden's comments on ambulance services being withdrawn from the accident and emergency department of the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, yesterday evening. A difficult situation has emerged at the hospital which is rated as being the most efficient hospital in the country and is second place in the country for hospital hygiene. I raised this matter on the Adjournment of the House last week. The Minister for Health and Children in reply said she would reward those hospitals which came up to the mark on efficiency. I call on the Minister to urge the HSE, the management team and the relevant bodies to enter into talks with the physicians, nurses and administrative staff in the hospital and endeavour to reach an agreement on the allocation of acute beds at Mullingar hospital which would be safer, fairer and would satisfy the growing needs of the wider community and the catchment area of Longford-Westmeath. This facility is second to none and we are really proud of its efficiency and expertise. Everyone in the hospital is working together. It is a shining example to the HSE and to the Government of what can be done when everyone is doing the right thing and moving in the right direction. This is a very negative signal from the HSE. As a public representative I will do everything possible to have the Minister for Health and Children come to the House on Tuesday to discuss the example which the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, has shown the rest of the country and the Government in the matters of efficiency, the quality of the service and everything that has been asked of it as a hospital. I want the Minister to come here on Tuesday to respond. I ask Senator McFadden to withdraw the amendment to the Order of Business as I will give a solemn commitment to the House that I will endeavour to do all I can and I will allow time for this issue to be discussed, not because it concerns Mullingar hospital or because we are from the catchment area of the hospital. It is because this hospital has done everything that was asked of it in recent years and has performed according to all independent analysis. This is what the future of HSE value for money and patient care should be. This is more than just about the 35 nurses, who are very important, not being at the hospital. It is about where the HSE and the Government are going with medical care services for our people. I fully support the call by Senator McFadden this morning and by Senator Glynn, who has worked all his life for medical services in the Mullingar area.

Senators O'Toole, Mary White and Regan spoke about the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the fair trade agreement with Colombia. I put it to colleagues that I will meet party leaders after the Order of Business to try to agree an all-party motion on this issue. Everyone in the House fully supports what Senator O'Toole and other colleagues stated this morning and I could not agree more with them.

Senator Bacik spoke about the ordering of the business of the House. In an ideal world it would be very easy but we depend on legislation concluding in the Dáil, particularly at the end of sessions and this is the third last week of the session. I apologise for the inconvenience being caused to colleagues but legislation is of the utmost importance. It is ordered by the Government, and as Senators know I take my instructions from the Government every week after the Government meeting on Tuesdays. The Bill being taken yesterday did not conclude in the Dáil until 2.25 p.m. and we were due to take it at 2 p.m. I apologise for any inconvenience to anyone concerned caused by postponing it until 5.30 p.m. Senators Coghlan and Buttimer asked me for an update on sitting days prior to Christmas and next Tuesday I will inform the House on all the proposed sitting days for the two weeks prior to the Christmas recess. I thank all colleagues for their understanding and co-operation at this difficult time in which our country finds itself regarding many serious challenges.